Eagle Creek Fire: Weekend Weather Forecast Could Help Firefighting Efforts

CASCADE LOCKS, OR — Though fire crews have increased containment to 13 percent, the Eagle Creek Fire grew another couple hundred acres from Tuesday to Wednesday after crossing Herman Creek on the Eastside and running roughly 3 miles to Nick Eaton Ridge, according to the latest acreage estimates from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center.

This growth increases the total number of acres burned to 35,636.

The Eagle Creek Fire began Sept. 2 after a 15-year-old boy allegedly threw a firecracker into the Eagle Creek Canyon, according to Oregon State Police. At this time, no formal charges have been filed, no arrests have been made, and the boy remains unidentified.

WATCH: Twitter user @JuliusChoong reportedly captured the moments after the Eagle Creek Fire began. (Warning: video has language some may find offensive)

The Oregon State Fire Marshal said Wednesday morning that fire crews have decreased to under 900 people as big movements on Tuesday included the fire crossing Herman Creek into the Camp Creek drainage, which is roughly three miles south of Interstate-84 on the fire's Northeast side. Water drops are being used to slow the fire's advance in that direction, while crews on the ground plan to strengthen contingency lines along the powerline corridor east of Cascade Locks to Shellrock Mountain and from Mitchell Point to Wahtum Lake, the fire marshal said.

Residents along the Columbia River Gorge and possibly even in the Portland metro region will likely see smoke rising from within the fire's perimeter as some areas are still actively burning, the fire marshal said, noting that most smoke will likely emanate from the fire area's southeast corner.

Despite some small increases in fire activity Tuesday, current evacuation levels remains the same as they've been for the past several days, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.

Weather for the remainder of the week appears promising as temperatures are expected to cool and humidity is expected to increase. There's even a chance for rain by Sunday, Sept. 17. The fire marshal said the forthcoming weather, if it's as expected, could help slow the fire's spread.

UPDATE: Hood River County Sheriff's officials on Wednesday altered the evacuation levels for three areas along the Eagle Creek Fire burn area. According to Hood River County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Pete Hughes, the changes are in response to the fire's movements on Tuesday, which included crossing the Herman Creek drainage and running roughly three miles to Nick Eaton Ridge, with some additional spots moving toward Gordon Creek.

The following changes were announced Sept. 13:

• The Level 3 (GO!) evacuation alerts previously issued for the Cascade Locks area have been reduced to Level 2 (Be Ready). The sheriff's office asks residents returning home to keep an eye on the news for any other changes, and to be prepared to leave again at a moment's notice;
• The Level 2 area along Interstate-84, from Exit 47/Herman Creek Road to Exit 56 just east of Viento Creek, has been increased to Level 3. This evacuation is for residents in the area of Wyeth and the tribal fishing in-lieu site; and
• The Level 1 evacuation area west of Country Club Road has been increased to Level 2. This affects all residences west of Country Club Road beginning at Frankton Road and ending at York Hill Road, all residences north and west of York Hill Road, and all residences west from Mile Post 61 to Mile Post 57, including Morton Road and Mitchell Point Road, Hughes said.

Photo Courtesy: InciWeb, Northwest Interagency Coordination Center