High winds fan Big Horn Fire in Klickitat County; fire doubles to est. 32,000 acres
A photo of the Big Horn Fire taken on Wednesday, July 24. Photo Courtesy Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore, July 25, 8 a.m. — A low-pressure weather system fanned the southwest corner of the Big Horn Fire burning in east Klickitat County on Wednesday, July 24, more than doubling its size to an estimated 32,000 acres.
“Today is going to be another windy day, but it does not look to be anything like yesterday as winds exceeded 30 miles per hour,” said Spokesperson Hanna Cleverly with the Southeast Incident Management Team. “That cold front moving in yesterday had a lot of kick in front of it and really changed the way the fire was behaving.
Big Horn Fire Evacuation Map: Click on the image to enlarge it. Red - Level 3 - Go Now, Yellow - Level 2- Get Set, Green - Level 1 - Get Ready.
Evacuation Preparedness Makes a Difference
Level 1: Be Ready. There is an incident in your area and residents should be aware of potential evacuation. ...
Level 2: Get Set. There is significant danger in your area and residents should be prepared to leave at a moment's notice. ...
Level 3: Go Now
Around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the fire expanded on the southwest corner in the Pine Creek drainage when the winds shifted to a westerly direction, pushing the fire to the east. Toward the Alderdale area.
In response, multiple aircraft from state and federal agencies were brought in to slow the fire's progression through water drops.
Forecasters are predicting 20 mph winds in the region today, July 25 and personnel to fight the blaze has increased by a third growing to 150 people, Cleverly said.
The cause of the blaze remains undetermined. No structures have been reported burned at this time. One firefighter suffered a minor injury from smoke inhalation on Monday, July 22.
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