ROWENA , Ore. – Firefighters working on the Rowena Fire day-shift made good progress in strengthening fire lines around the fire perimeter. Structure crews continued mop-up efforts around homes and buildings extinguishing heat within 50 feet of structures inside the fire perimeter. Firefighters removed hazardous trees to increase safety in the area. Crews continued with structure assessment to determine the extent of damage and loss. This assessment work is expected to be completed this weekend.
Weather conditions remained dry with winds of 15-25 miles per hour and temperatures in the low 70’s. Winds are expected to decrease later this evening with humidities reaching 70-75 % creating favorable fire suppression conditions. The current size of the fire remains at 3,831 acres. More accurate mapping will be available as firefighters continue to work along the fire line and gather updated data.
Crews are working this evening to hold the fire in its current footprint, limiting growth and protecting homes and natural resources. These efforts will assist to increase fire containment.
A community meeting was held tonight at The Dalles High School to provide a current fire update to the public. Fire managers and local officials shared progress updates and fielded questions from the audience. A recording of the meeting will be later posted on YouTube and Facebook for those who couldn’t attend in person.
Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuations remain in effect under the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office’s direction. You can search for specific addresses here: https://perimetermap.com/wascocounty-or
The Red Cross shelter remains open at The Dalles Middle School at 1100 East 12th Street. Livestock and horses can be taken to the Wasco County Fairgrounds at 81849 Fairgrounds Road.
I-84 remains open, however firefighters are continuing to work near the roadway; be aware of crews when driving through the area.
Closures: Due to the fires, Mayer State Park is closed to the public. More information is available here:
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=117
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 6500 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_2600. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.