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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
March 19, 2024

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Kitzhaber declares fire emergency near Portland

The Columbian
Published:

PORTLAND — About 90 homes have been put on evacuation notice because of a wildfire burning in a rural area west of Portland, authorities said Saturday.

The Scoggins Creek wildfire 2 miles northwest of Henry Hagg Lake started Friday afternoon and had scorched 400 acres by Saturday. No injuries were reported.

Residents from about three dozen homes were told to evacuate, and people in another 50 or so were advised to be ready to go, said Sgt. David Thompson, spokesman for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Helicopters dropped water from Hagg Lake on the fire Saturday while ground crews worked to establish containment lines.

Fire officials said low humidity, northeasterly winds and hilly terrain make it difficult to contain the blaze.

Gov. John Kitzhaber invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act so the Oregon fire marshal can mobilize resources from around the state to protect homes. About 200 firefighters, half a dozen bulldozers, eight helicopters and a support team were on the scene Saturday. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

“We are reminded that fire season is still not over, and the danger to life and property persists anywhere a spark and dry fuel exists, no matter what time of year,” the governor said in a statement.

Scoggins Valley Park was closed to assist the firefighting effort and could remain that way for a week, the county said.

Deana and Gene Bonny of Forest Grove, Ore., have been advised to be ready to evacuate. They said they moved to the area in June from the Central Oregon city of La Pine. They figured wildfire wouldn’t be an issue here.

“In La Pine, fire was always kind of a threat,” Deana Bonny said. “But you would never think about it here.”

Meanwhile, near Estacada, Ore., fire crews worked to halt the 36 Pit Fire from spreading farther to the north and west, officials said.

The fire is estimated to have scorched 4,320 acres, and is 40 percent contained, The Oregonian reported Saturday.

Smoke from the 36 Pit Fire was visible Saturday from Clark County.

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