Eagle Creek fire zero percent contained as Red Cross shelters evacuees
Channel: Porto Media
Date: 2017-09-05

I-84 closed, more evacuations ordered as Eagle Creek Fire grows to 5,500 acres

HOOD RIVER, Ore. — The Eagle Creek Fire that stranded more than 150 hikers in the Mount Hood National Forest on Saturday has grown to 5,500 acres and closed a portion of Interstate 84.

The growth of the fire has led to the closure of I-84, the major east-west thoroughfare through the Columbia River Gorge, from Troutdale to Hood River.

Winds pushed the fire west on Monday and smoke has blown over much of the gorge and Portland metro area. Residents as far west as Hillsboro have reported ash falling. An air quality warning is in effect in the area until Tuesday night.
Level 3 evacuation orders were given to two communities, Warrendale and Dodson, Monday evening, meaning residents need to leave. Those communities were under Level 1 evacuation warnings Monday morning, meaning they should gather up valuables in anticipation of an evacuation. At Level 2, residents should be ready to go at a moment's notice.

A Red Cross Shelter was set up at the Yoshida Event Center at Mount Hood Community College in Gresham for the evacues of Warrendale and Dodson.
The communities of Latourell and Bridal Veil, west of Cascade Locks were issued Level 1 evacuation orders Monday night.
Under smoky skies just north of the Columbia River, a weary-eyed crowd gathered around Hood River County Sheriff Matt English.

More than 80 people were sheltered Monday afternoon at the Red Cross center set up on fairgrounds in Stevenson, Washington, a few miles north of Cascade Locks. The crowd ranged from woodworkers living in the small Gorge town to Pacific Crest Trail hikers from Germany, but on Monday, they had one thing in common: Thanks to the Eagle Creek Fire, they had nowhere else to go.

English gave the crowd an update on the fire, which had grown to 3,200 acres since it started Saturday: Much of the surrounding area was still under varying levels of evacuation warnings. The fire was still just outside Cascade Locks. He still didn't know when residents could return home.

The Eagle Creek fire was zero percent contained Monday and crews prepared for the fire to move west as easterly winds are forecasted to pick up Monday night.

The blaze in the popular Columbia River Gorge hiking area was likely caused by illegal fireworks, Oregon State Police said Monday. Troopers have identified a teenage suspect who could face arson charges.

A state police spokesman said no arrests had been made and declined to give more information, citing an active investigation.