CLATSKANIE, Ore. – A wildfire at milepost 5.5. along Highway 47 near Clatskanie is reported as fully lined
at 29 acres. About 50 personnel are on site this morning mopping up the fire. Hoses have been laid to help firefighters water down any burning woody debris. Investigators will be arriving on scene this morning to look into the cause of the fire. Highway 47 is now reopened.
The fire was reported Sunday at around 11:30 a.m. The fire occurred on private ODF-protected land in logging slash and some standing trees. Sunday afternoon a 10-mile stretch had been temporarily closed as some 70 fire personnel from multiple agencies battled the blaze along with two helicopters and two single-engine air tankers. No structures were threatened.
ODF crews from Columbia City, Forest Grove and Astoria were aided by local fire departments from the towns of Clatskanie, Scappoose, and Vernonia as well as Washington County, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District, Knappa Fire District and Columbia River Fire and Rescue, and private landowner personnel.
According to ODF records, there have been 356 wildfires statewide so far this year on the 16 million acres of land protected by the agency. The fires have burned about 442 acres of ODF-protected land. About 82% of those wildfires have been caused by humans.
Photo below: View of the aftermath of the Highway 47 Milepost 5 Fire outside of Clatskanie. Photo from Malcolm Hiatt, ODF.
