Big winds expected today in 18,000-acre Larch Creek Fire near Tygh Valley, July 14
Photo of the fire on Saturday evening, July 13. Photo Courtesy Wasco County Sheriff’s Office
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., July 14, 2024 — Firefighters on the Larch Creek Fire near Tygh Valley are bracing for a difficult day as a red-warning alert goes into effect for tinder-dry conditions starting at 11 a.m. and the wind is expected to gust up to 29 mph this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
High winds can send embers into the air and blow them miles ahead of the original fire boundary, causing new spot fires to contend with.
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“Under these conditions, any ignitions could spread rapidly. Precautions should be taken to prevent the start of new fires. The public is also reminded that drones are not permitted to fly in the fire's airspace. Doing so can cause grounding of all aircraft, hampering effective fire response,” stated a joint press release from the Oregon Department of Forestry and the State Fire Marshal.
The total personnel on the fire now stands at 944.
The cost to battle the blaze is currently around $1 million per day as resources on the ground and in the air have been substantially increased in the past 48 hours.
27 Hand crews of approximately 20 people each, 66, engines, 18 water tenders, 13 bulldozers and 13 helicopters have been working the blaze, the press release states.
“Updated mapping now shows the Larch Creek Fire at 18,387 acres. This increase in acreage is not new fire growth. New technology used today through the interagency FireGuard Program allowed a more accurate picture of the fire footprint, particularly east of Highway 197 and north of 216,” according to officials.
Acreages are estimates and can vary greatly as fire mapping is difficult in smoky conditions. Infrared heat detectors are typically used to show the locations of hotspots within the fire, and then fire managers place a polygon boundary around it to make estimates. In that system, however, not all fuels - grass, trees or ag land, within the boundary are necessarily burned.
Photo of the fire on Saturday evening, July 13. Photo Courtesy Wasco County Sheriff’s Office
Restrictions and Evacuations
Level 3 GO NOW- Level 3 - GO NOW evacuation from Friend Rd in the north down to Rock Creek Dam Rd/Wamic Market Rd. in the south. Tygh Valley Rd. and the White River in the south to Hulse Rd. in the north. Threemile Rd from the west to the Deschutes River on the east.
Level 2 GET SET- From the intersection of Rock Creek Dam Rd. and Threemile Rd. north to Dodson Rd., west to Gate Creek, south to the White River, east to the boundary of the city of Tygh Valley south to Val Miller Rd./Juniper Flat Rd./Oak Springs Rd., and east to the Deschutes River. From the intersection of Tygh Valley Market Rd and Hwy 197 south to Hulse Rd, east to the Deschutes River, and from the intersection of Hwy 197 and Tygh Valley Market Rd, southeast to the Deschutes River.
Level 1 GET READY - from Elliott Rd. east to Hwy 197, south to the intersection of Hwy 197 and Dufur Gap Rd., and due west to Elliott Rd.
Updated Evacuation information is available at: https://www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff
Evacuation shelters: Two shelters are available at South Wasco County High School (699 4th St in Maupin) and Wy'East Middle School (3000 Wy'East Rd, Hood River). Residents evacuating from Pine Hollow, Wamic, and Sportsman's Park should travel to the west and use the shelter at Wy'East Middle School. The livestock shelter is located adjacent to the Wy'East Middle School at the Hood River Fairgrounds (3020 Wy'East Rd, Hood River).
Fire restrictions are in effect on the nearby Mt. Hood National Forest. For more information, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mthood/fire
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