The Oregon State Fire Marshal has hastily mobilized a significant response to the swiftly spreading Larch Creek Fire in Wasco County, located 16 miles south of The Dalles. Four structural task forces alongside the green incident management team have been dispatched due to the fire that ignited between Dufur and Tygh Valley around 3 p.m. yesterday, now covering an estimated 2,500 acres. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office is currently enforcing levels 1, 2, and 3 evacuations to safeguard residents from the escalating threat.
Wasco County is also under a Red Flag Warning, an alert that signifies critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or will shortly. Recorded temperatures in the area have soared to 107 degrees yesterday, and there is an expectation for strong winds to persist today. The fire's rapid growth has led to the involvement of three structural task forces being briefed earlier today, and a further task force is slated to join the response later in the afternoon.
According to a statement obtained by the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Travis Medema issued a warning about the current perilous conditions. "The heat wave that has gripped Oregon significantly increased the fire danger across the state. The continued hot, dry conditions, and gusty winds are a dangerous combination," Medema said. "I am asking everyone to do what they can to prevent sparking a wildfire."
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act. This act allows the state fire marshal to efficiently mobilize state resources to protect life and property.
