Out-of-control Oregon wildfire forces evacuations and highway closures as gusty winds challenge firefighters
The Rowena Fire has burned 2,500 acres since it ignited on Wednesday afternoon in Wasco County, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal. It's 0% contained as of early Thursday morning.
More than 800 homes were under evacuation orders in part of northern Wasco County Wednesday night, CNN affiliate KATU reported. An additional 2,500 homes were under evacuation warnings or advisories urging residents to be ready to evacuate soon – including parts of The Dalles, the county's largest city and home to about 15,000 people.
Interstate 84 was shut down in both directions for nearly 20 miles on Wednesday evening but reopened early Thursday morning, with travelers urged to use caution, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. Nearby US-30 remained closed in both directions for about 10 miles Thursday morning.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act on Wednesday afternoon, allowing the state's fire marshal to mobilize resources to help combat the fire, according to a news release.
'This early season conflagration should come as a reminder to Oregonians to be ready for wildfire,' State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said in the release.
'The predictions for this summer are extremely concerning. I am asking everyone to take that extra minute to mindful of the conditions and remember it takes a single spark to ignite a disaster.'
Oregon and the Pacific Northwest baked under intense heat this week that dried out soil and left vegetation vulnerable to fire start and spread.
The high temperature hit triple digits in The Dalles on both Sunday and Monday – Monday's high of 101 degrees Fahrenheit broke a record for the date that had stood since 1955.
Windy conditions on Wednesday, with gusts of 30 to 40 mph, fanned the flames once the Rowena Fire sparked in the afternoon.
Wind will pose a continued challenge for fire crews Thursday. Gusts of 10 to 15 mph in the morning will increase to 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon, and a few gusts past 30 mph are possible. Winds will remain gusty at times through Friday and no rain is expected into at least early next week.
CNN's David Williams contributed to this report.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
26 minutes ago
- CNET
Here's How To Save the Food in Your Fridge During a Power Outage
If a summer heat wave knocks out your power, the food in your refrigerator and freezer is at risk of spoiling, which can be costly and inconvenient. However, a little preparation can help keep the majority of your groceries safe and fresh until the power returns. While you may not be able to save everything, depending on the length of the outage, there are ways to keep most of your perishables fresh when the fridge stops running. CNET Here's everything to know. How long is food good in fridge without power? According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), food in the refrigerator will stay cold for about four hours as long as your keep the doors closed, while a full freezer can stay frozen for up to 48 hours. If you want to be extra safe, you can keep an appliance thermometer in your freezer, which can help confirm the freezer stayed below 40 degrees Fahrenheit during the power outage. If it did, all of the food is safe to be refrozen, the FDA states. Make a plan to save your food before a power outage strikes Before you face a power outage, it's best to take a few steps to prepare in case you need to save your food. The recommendation from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to have the following items on hand: Do this first to save your food when the power goes out When an outage hits, keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed -- don't open them up unless you absolutely need to, and even then, try to do so quickly so as not to let the cold air out. If the doors stay closed, your food can stay safe for up to four hours in a refrigerator, 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 hours in a half-full freezer, according to the CDC. Once you've passed the four-hour mark (or if you see the temperature inside the fridge has risen to over 40 degrees Fahrenheit) and the power is still out, it's time to start moving food out of the fridge. If perishable food has been left in the fridge after that point, you'll have to throw it all out. The exception here would be if you have dry ice. You can put dry ice on the top shelf of your freezer and the bottom shelf of your refrigerator, and it will keep your perishables cold. You need about 3 pounds of dry ice per cubic foot of freezer space, which should keep food cold for at least two days. Just make sure you're aware of how to safely handle dry ice before using it. If the power is out for more than four hours, you should move your perishable food to a cooler. fishysam/Getty Images Separate your food into two groups First, you will make two piles: food that absolutely must be kept cold, and food that is safe to leave on the counter until the power is back on. Foods that do not need to be kept cold The following foods can be safely kept out of the fridge: Butter (for 1-2 days) Peanut butter Most cooking oils, except for nut oils Herbs Potatoes Most fruits and vegetables Bread Coffee Honey Ketchup, mustard and hot sauce Foods that need to be kept cold The following foods must be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to prevent bacteria growth and spoilage: Dairy products (cheese, milk, whipped cream, sour cream) Eggs Meats, poultry and fish (cooked or uncooked) Cut fruit and vegetables Leftovers How to keep your perishable food cold without a refrigerator Once you've got your pile of perishable food, it's time to pull out your cooler and ice packs. Put a layer of frozen food at the bottom. Then put a layer of foods from the fridge on top of that layer. Top it off with another layer of frozen foods. If you don't have any ice or ice packs, go to the store and buy some if it's safe to do so. Layer ice or ice packs around the food in the cooler -- don't just throw it all on top or bottom. Distributing the ice will keep the food at a more consistent temperature. Move your fridge thermometer inside the cooler to monitor the temperature. If you don't have a cooler, you can use your freezer instead -- it's insulated and will keep your food cold as long as you leave the door shut and keep a fresh supply of ice in it. To prevent melting ice from turning your freezer into a pond, put ice in bowls and place them around the food. You should never taste food to see if it's gone bad -- when in doubt, throw it out, the CDC advises. Throw away any food with unusual odors, colors or textures right away. In terms of frozen foods, you can safely refreeze or cook thawed frozen food that is at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, or that still contains ice crystals. For more power outage tips, learn everything you need to know about home generators and consider whether a home battery backup might be a better option.
Associated Press
27 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Wildfire kills 10 firefighters and rescue workers in Turkey
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — At least 10 firefighters and rescue workers were killed Wednesday and many others injured while battling a wildfire in northwestern Turkey, the forestry minister Ibrahim Yumakli said. The five forestry workers and five members of the AKUT rescue organization died while trying to put out the wildfire raging through a forested area of Eskisehir province, Yumakli said. At least 14 other rescuers and forestry workers were hospitalized, he said. The deaths bring the number of fatalities in wildfires that have flared amid strong winds, high temperatures and dry conditions so far in the country this year to 13. The minister said the wind suddenly changed direction, causing the flames to shift rapidly and surround the forest workers. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire. Turkey has been battling wildfires since June 26. An elderly man and two forestry workers were killed in a wildfire that raged near the town of Odemis, in Izmir province, earlier this month.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
How to activate location based weather alerts on CBS News app
Did you know the CBS News app can send you automatic weather alerts for your specific location? It's just one of the many ways the First Alert Weather Team is keeping you safe and ahead of the storm. Now, the next time any form of severe weather moves into your specific area, you will get an automated alert sent straight to your phone.
