More than 700 fire personnel now working Rowena Fire; Hazard tree work in progress
Photo Coutesy the Rowena Fire 2025 Facebook Page
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., June 16, 2025 — Firefighters continued to gain ground Monday, June 16, on the Rowena Fire, which has burned 3,500 acres and was 24% contained as of the morning briefing.
More than 700 firefighters have now converged to fight and mop up the blaze that has left hundreds homeless and blackened the pine and grassland between Rowena and The Dalles.
Overnight, crews worked to strengthen fire lines using handheld infrared devices to detect hidden heat sources beneath the surface. On Monday, firefighters shifted focus to mopping up hotspots and building additional containment lines around the fire perimeter with the help of engines and hand crews.
Caution….work in progress - After a wildfire, it’s not just the firefighters and utility crews working to keep our community safe—it’s also the incredible tree removal teams out there climbing burned, unstable trees to cut down hazards before they can fall. Do them a favor and give them a wide berth as they conduct this dangerous work.
Cooler weather offered some relief, though gusting winds of up to 40 mph posed a renewed challenge for containment efforts.
As the threat to structures diminished, the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Green Team began demobilizing, transferring command to the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 2 (IMT2), which officially assumed control at 6 a.m. Two OSFM task forces and three overhead personnel will remain on scene to assist with structural protection.
Officials thanked OSFM, Oregon Fire Service, and partner agencies at the federal, state, and local levels for their coordinated response. “The relationships that are built and maintained keep the unified command model a success when responding to Oregon’s emergency situations,” the update noted.
Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation notices remain in effect under direction from the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office. Address-specific updates and maps are available at perimetermap.com/wascocounty-or.
A Red Cross evacuation shelter remains open at The Dalles Middle School, 1100 E. 12th St. Livestock and horses can be taken to the Wasco County Fairgrounds at 81849 Fairgrounds Road.
I-84 remains open, but firefighters are working near the highway and drivers are urged to use caution.
Mayer State Park is closed to the public due to fire activity. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in place for the area up to 6,500 feet altitude, 24 hours a day. Authorities reminded the public that flying drones near wildfires endangers air crews and disrupts firefighting efforts.
More than 700 personnel are assigned to the fire, including 20 hand crews, 47 engines, 11 water tenders, three bulldozers, and nine helicopters.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
