Eagle Creek Fire: Heavy Equipment Spurs Suppression Progress; Soil Specialists Assess Future Repair Options

CASCADE LOCKS, OR — As fire crews continue to beat back the spread of the Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge, a Burned Area Emergency Response team on Tuesday began researching ways to repair the 48,500-acre burn scar to as close to its pre-fire condition as possible.

The 13-person team, also known as BAER, assessed conditions within the burn zone and studied the "potential adverse effects of future weather events on the fire's most impacted areas," according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC).

"The BAER team will assess and recommend emergency stabilization actions needed to address potential post-fire risks to human life and safety, property, cultural heritage and critical natural resources," NWCC officials said in their briefing Sept. 27. "The team began to assess the fire yesterday, and they are scheduled to fly over the fire again (Wednesday)."

A few days without heavy rain allowed fire crews to safely roll in heavy equipment Tuesday, officials said. The equipment, which included a dozer and skidder, reportedly made progress on the western side of the burn zone. Officials also reportedly saw progress made on the eastern side, where fire remains active on Shellrock Mountain, as ground crews continued suppression repair.

The interior of the fire zone, near Nesmith Point, showed signs of heat during a reconnaissance flight Tuesday, officials said. While the weather Wednesday will be warmer and less humid, officials do not expect fire activity to increase by any significant measure. The recent cooling trend and precipitation has helped dampen the terrain, making it more difficult to ignite fuels in the area, officials said.

The rain also increase potential hazards to fire crews in the way of possible landslides and mudslides, but the dry weather the past couple days has helped abate those hazards some.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service — Portland Office expect Thursday to look a lot like Wednesday, weather-wise, but are calling for another bout of rain beginning Friday and continuing through the weekend.

Top Photo: Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, InciWeb