Rowena, Ore. – Incident priorities remain unchanged today as firefighters continue making steady progress on the Rowena Fire.
Despite sustained winds reaching up to 30 mph overnight, crews had a productive shift. Night operations focused on prepping line along the west and southwest portions of the fire, while patrol and mop-up continued in the southern areas. Fire activity flared up in the northern interior but was successfully extinguished and contained.
Today, crews will continue patrolling and mopping up along the perimeter, while line construction resumes in the southwest to clean up remaining edges. Removing hazard trees remains a top priority, especially along Highway 30 and I-84, where steep terrain and swirling winds pose safety concerns.
Structural resources remain engaged as the Oregon State Fire Marshal begins adjusting its response in line with the decreasing threat to homes.
“As the scope and scale of the fire decrease, we’re adjusting our resources to ensure our workforce continues to align with OSFM’s mission of structural protection. We’re incredibly grateful for the dedication of our crews and look forward to seeing them return home safely to rest and prepare for what’s ahead,”
– Kelly Zakrzewski, Chief of Operations, OSFM
Crews will continue mop-up operations and tactical patrols around previously threatened structures. OSFM will maintain a presence until there is full confidence that the threat to structures has been mitigated.
Winds remain a key factor today. While slightly lighter than yesterday, breezy conditions persist with west-northwest winds ranging from 8–20 mph and gusts up to 33 mph on ridges and upper slopes. Highs are expected in the upper 70s.
“Tomorrow will be the least windy day of the week, but we trade that for even warmer temperatures and lower relative humidities,” – Tom Schuldt, Incident Meteorologist
The drop in wind speeds today will improve helicopter support, allowing for more precise water drops on hotspots within the fire perimeter.
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.