The Larch Creek Fire, south of The Dalles, has expanded to an estimated area of more than 18,000 acres, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal.
Courtesy of the Oregon State Fire Marshal
The Larch Creek Fire, situated south of The Dalles, has continued to grow this week, but the Oregon State Fire Marshal says firefighters are making progress on the blaze.
The human-caused fire, which started Tuesday at 100 acres in Wasco County near Tygh Valley, has now expanded to an estimated size of more than 18,000 acres as of Sunday morning. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the fire, allowing the state fire marshal to mobilize state resources to protect life and property.
Related: Larch Creek Fire, south of The Dalles, is growing fast, forcing evacuations
The fire marshal reports Saturday that 3% of the Larch Creek Fire has been contained, after fire crews had mopped up its north and east sides and built dozer lines up to its southwest corner near the Tygh Creek drainage. Dozers are firefighting bulldozers used to create lines by blading flammable vegetation down to soil.
“Saturday offers firefighters the opportunity to ‘tie together’ the established dozer line in the southwest corner with hand-built line through the Tygh Creek drainage and solidify these significant gains before gusty winds are expected to return Sunday,” said the state fire marshal in a press release Saturday.
The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for the east side of the Larch Creek Fire effective from Sunday to Monday, warning that strong winds and dry fuels may lead to rapid wildfire activities.
In light of the blaze, the U.S. Forest Service has issued fire restrictions on the nearby Mount Hood National Forest beginning on Friday, prohibiting any open fires being lighted in the area.
On Tuesday, the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation order from Friend Road, East to Elliott Road and Highway 197, South to Badger Creek Road, West to McCorkle Grade Road. The evacuation orders remain in effect.
Related: Hot, dry temperatures mean critical fire conditions across the Northwest
Two shelters are available for evacuees at South Wasco County High School at 699 4th Street in Maupin and Wy’East Middle School at 3000 Wy’East Road in Hood River. People looking to shelter their livestock are encouraged to visit the Hood River County Fairgrounds.
Wasco County experienced a similar fire in 2018, the Substation Fire, which burned over 70,000 acres.
This story may be updated.