Larch Creek Fire Update July 10: Fire at 3,500 acres; Cause unknown
Photo From Wasco County Sheriff’s Office - Multiple agencies quickly responded to the blaze as Fire Boss Scooper planes and a helicopter with bucket worked the fire vigorously on Tuesday, July 9.
From the Oregon Department of Forestry and Wasco County Sheriff’s Office- Updated July 10, 8:31 a.m.:
The fire is currently burning with a moderate-to-high spread, estimated at 3,500 acres in grass and timber fuel types. Containment is at 0%.
The Larch Creek Fire is located 5 miles southwest of Dufur, OR near Friend, OR. It is burning southeast of Winslow Road in Township 2S Range 13E, which is west of Highway 97.
Evacuation Levels
Level 3 GO NOW - Remains residences from Friend Rd, East to Elliott Rd and Hwy 197, South to Badger Creek Rd, West to Mc Corkle Grade Rd.
Level 2 GET SET - Remains from Fairgrounds Rd, East to Hwy 197, North to Shadybrook Rd, South to Fairgrounds Rd.
LEVEL 1 GET READY - Remains from Badger Creek Rd/Fairgrounds Rd, South to Rock Creek Dam Rd/Wamic Market Rd, West to Threemile Rd, East to Hwy 197. **NEW AREA** Elliott Rd, East to Kinglsey Rd./Dufur Gap Rd., North to Friend Rd. and South to Level 3 border.
Here is the latest fire map from Wasco County Sheriff’s Office showing area of the fire and evacuation area in red, July 10 at 7:43 a.m. Click the image to enlarge it.
The Wasco County Fairgrounds is a temporarily designated evacuation point for livestock. A Red Cross Evacuation Shelter is opened at Maupin High School.
Last reported resources: 8 engines, 20-person hand crew from USFS Mt Hood, 4 dozers, local landowner resources, and multiple air resources. A Type 3 Central Oregon Fire Management Service team has been ordered and is in route.
From the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office:
By Stephanie Krell, Public Information Officer
The Dalles, Ore., July 9, 9:25 p.m. – Firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District, U.S. Forest Service, local fire districts and landowners have quickly responded to a wildfire near Friend, OR.
Firefighters are under initial attack and will continue operations into the night. The fire is currently burning with moderate-to-high spread, estimated at 1500+ acres in grass and timber fuel types at this time. Containment is at 0%.
The National Weather Service is predicting widespread haze with patchy smoke before 11 a.m. in the Dufur area today, Wednesday, July 10. The forecast calls for a high near 96. Northwest wind will be 7 to 12 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. High winds quickly spread fire by blowing embers, creating new spot fires outside of the original fire boundary - Tom Peterson
From Wasco County Sheriff’s Office - In times like these, our community always steps up. Thank you to Terry Cobb of Cobblestone Catering and Devinn Ward for donating food and drinks for our hungry and hardworking first responders
Last reported resources: 8 engines, 20-person hand crew from USFS Mt Hood, 4 dozers, local landowner resources, and multiple air resources. A type 3 Central Oregon Fire Management Service team has been ordered and is in route.
With high temperatures, low humidity, and difficult terrain, suppression efforts require diverse methods of attack, prioritizing safety while protecting life and structure foremost. Increased winds are playing a significant factor in fire behavior.
https://www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff or the Wasco County Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wascocounty/
The fire started sometime around 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 09, 2024. The cause is under investigation.
The video below was shot during training at Dallesport and displays the ability of the Fire Boss scooper planes to target fire and drop water upon it. - Tom Peterson
Photo by Mary Beechler - from Tygh Valley. Posted on Columbia Gorge Wildland Fire and Information Page on Facebook.
