PORTLAND — Wildfires in the Columbia River Gorge slowed their spread Sunday night, but crews are preparing for winds to speed fire growth again in the coming days, officials said Monday morning.
The Eagle Creek Fire is roughly 3,200 acres and has crept further west over Buck Point and toward the Eagle Creek campground, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Rachel Pawlitz said. The fire was zero percent contained Monday morning.
The blaze in the popular gorge hiking area was likely caused by illegal fireworks, Oregon State Police said Monday. Troopers have identified a teenage suspect who could face arson charges.
The nearby Indian Creek fire is more than 1,000 acres and is 10 percent contained, according to InciWeb.
Easterly winds are expected to pick up Monday night and Tuesday, which could lead to rapid fire spread, the National Weather Service said.
Fire crews are preparing for the winds to accelerate the blaze’s spread west and are making plans to minimize the growth and protect communities west of the flames, Pawlitz said.
Level 1 evacuation notices are in place for Bonneville Dam, Warrendale and Dodson, Multnomah County sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Chad Gaidos said. Level 1 evacuations means people should be aware of fire danger and ready for potential evacuations.
Deputies contacted area residents Sunday night to notify them of the evacuation warning, Gaidos said.
The fire remains about a quarter mile outside Cascade Locks, where the town is under evacuation notices of varying severity. The southern part of town has been evacuated and the north side is under level 2 evacuation notices. That means residents should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
Though no closures were planned on Interstate 84 Monday morning, a shutdown is still possible, Pawlitz said. Travelers should check conditions on TripCheck, she said.
I-84 Exit 41 to Eagle Creek is closed due to the fire.
