Stay safe 51 this looks like it will be awhile before you can go home1 of 27 pics at linkTHE EAGLE CREEK FIRE, OREGON
The Eagle Creek Fire, reported on Sept. 2 in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, burned 3,000 acres its first night. By the morning of Sept. 5, it had grown significantly and spread across the Columbia River into Washington near Archer Mountain. The fire is believed to be human-caused, but the specifics remain under investigation by the Oregon State Police.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/wildfires-sweep-across-us-west-slow-push-toward-portland/ar-AAroUTr?li=BBnb7KzWildfires sweep across U.S. West, slow push toward Portland Reuters
By Alex Dobuzinskis
1 hr ago
PIER FIRE, CALIFORNIA
The Pier Fire in Colorado began on Aug. 29 and is suspected to have been human-caused. This image of the smoke from the fires was taken on Sept. 4.
An Oregon wildfire that has damaged landmarks in the scenic Columbia River Gorge slowed its push toward evacuated houses near the city of Portland on Wednesday, officials said.
As dozens of blazes raged across the U.S. West, the so-called Eagle Creek Fire near Portland merged late Tuesday with another blaze, the Indian Creek Fire. The two combined have charred 30,930 acres (12,520 hectares), officials said.
Heavy fire activity was expected to continue through September in much of the West, and through October in parts of the northern Rocky Mountains and California, the National Interagency Fire Center said, citing hot and dry weather conditions as the primary cause.
The Eagle Creek Fire, burning in the Columbia River Gorge, forced hundreds of people to evacuate homes earlier this week in communities east of Portland, including Warrendale, Dodson and Latourell, and sent ash falling on the city itself.
Eighty-one large wildfires covering more than 1.4 million acres (570,000 hectares) were burning in the western part of the United States Wednesday, a day after federal officials said 200 active duty military personnel would help fight the fires.
"It's very unusual to have this many fires burning this many acres across such a broad area at this time in September," National Interagency Fire Center spokeswoman Jennifer Jones said.
It is the first time in two years fire officials have turned to the U.S. Department of Defense for assistance, and at a time when the fire season would normally be winding down in many parts of the West.
The Oregon fire, now zero percent contained, has burned one home and four outbuildings, as well as damaging the historic Oneonta Tunnel and hiking trails, officials said.
But firefighters protected the historic Multnomah Falls Lodge and damage was not as bad in the gorge as feared.
"The gorge still looks like the gorge; it's not a wasteland," Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office spokesman Damon Simmons told reporters.
A 15-year-old boy is believed to have started the blaze by lighting fireworks, but the investigation continues and the teen has not been charged, Oregon State Police said.
Authorities said they were seeking to determine when they can lift evacuation orders near Portland.
Montana is battling 28 large fires, the most of any state.
One of those, the Caribou Fire northwest of Eureka, has destroyed 10 homes and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people, said fire information officer Don Simon. It was 10 percent contained.
PAYETTE WILDERNESS FIRES, IDAHO
The Highline Fire is the largest of the fires at 6,295 acres burning in the Payette Wilderness of Idaho, on July 31.
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several vids at linkhttp://www.kgw.com/news/local/rescue-effort-underway-for-hikers-trapped-by-eagle-creek-fire/470354816TROUTDALE, Ore. -- The Eagle Creek wildfire that has forced hundreds of evacuations and closed miles of Interstate 84 east of Portland is at 32,929 acres and is 0 percent contained, said Lt. Damon Simmons, a spokesman with Portland Fire & Rescue.
The increase in acreage -- the fire had been estimated at 20,000 acres Tuesday night -- is more of a correction than an indication that the fire has grown, Simmons said during a Wednesday morning news conference. An infrared flight was able to go over the fire, which gave officials more exact numbers.
The Eagle Creek Fire and nearby 1,000-acre Indian Creek Fire have combined, but Simmons said the fire didn't make a hard push in any direction Tuesday. On Tuesday night, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said fire officials "are indicating that the fire has slowed way down for now."
The last new evacuation order was issued early Tuesday afternoon. In addition to the evacuations in Multnomah County, Hood River County has closed all forest land for recreational use.
About 600 emergency personnel are fighting the Eagle Creek wildfire. Crews have been focusing on containing the fire, improving fire lines and increasing space around structures.
The historic Multnomah Falls Lodge, built in 1925, has been threatened by the fire, but structural firefighters have worked to keep the fire away from it. Several structural engines and one aerial ladders truck have been working with water tenders to keep the lodge wetted down.
The western edge of the fire had not advanced as far as originally thought, Simmons said. It is currently about a half-mile south of Interstate 84.
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KGW meteorologist Rod Hill said Wednesday morning that light west winds in the gorge should help stop the flow of wildfire smoke into Portland. And he said the winds should calm down for firefighters battling the Eagle Creek blaze through Wednesday afternoon. But gusty winds could pick back up again late Wednesday.