Photographer's notebook: Quick action helps keep brush fire from spreading
Editor’s Note — Reporter Joshuah Albert responded to the brush fire near Taylor Lake this morning in West The Dalles and provided the following information.
The Dalles, Ore., May 28, 2026 — When I arrived at the brush fire near the fish bridge overpass at exit 84 in west The Dalles, the fire was still relatively small, though police officers were already on scene.
I parked at the top of the bridge that leads into the port and watched as conditions quickly changed. Wind began to pick up, pushing flames across the dry grass toward a stand of trees on the far side of the field. Parked nearby was an RV, and through the trees I could see what appeared to be several tents, suggesting a houseless encampment in the area.
As the fire moved closer to the trees, two police officers entered the wooded area to alert and evacuate anyone who might have been there. Smoke soon began to engulf portions of the bridge, and officers directed me to leave the area for safety.
By the time I was able to return to a vantage point overlooking the scene, firefighters had stopped the fire's forward progress and were already transitioning into mop-up operations. The flames were contained not far from the RV and the trees that had appeared to be most at risk.
From what I observed, there were no injuries and no visible property losses. The quick response by police officers and firefighters appeared to prevent what could have become a much larger incident.
Well done to the crews who responded.
The fire was reported shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday in a grassy area near Taylor Lake and Google facilities in west The Dalles. Smoke from the blaze was visible across portions of the city as firefighters from The Dalles Fire Department and Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue responded.
The location presented several challenges. Dry grass, increasing winds and nearby trees created conditions that could have allowed the fire to spread quickly. The presence of an RV and what appeared to be a small encampment in the wooded area added urgency to the response.
Firefighters moved quickly to establish control of the blaze before it could reach the trees or threaten nearby property. Within a short time, crews had halted the fire's forward progress and shifted to mop-up operations, extinguishing hot spots and securing the perimeter.
No injuries were reported, and no structures were damaged.
For those watching from the bridge and surrounding area, the incident served as a reminder of how quickly conditions can change during fire season. What began as a relatively small grass fire had the potential to become something much larger, but a rapid response from police officers and firefighters kept it from growing into a more serious incident.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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