The Oregon State Fire Marshal is pulling together firefighters and management teams to tackle the Rowena Fire in Wasco County. The fire has prompted Level 3 evacuations, the type that says, "Go Now," as enforced by the Wasco County Sheriff, and has caused the shutdown of I-84 between Mosier and The Dalles. In response, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has activated the Emergency Conflagration Act, enabling the state fire marshal to mobilize additional resources to combat the rapidly spreading blaze, as reported by the Oregon State Fire Marshal.
Following Governor Kotek’s declaration, the state fire marshal's office is calling in its Green Incident Management Team, along with six structural task forces, according to a statement made by the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Half of these forces were dispatched overnight, and the rest are set to arrive by Thursday morning. This team will be joining forces with the Central Oregon Fire Management Service Type 3 Team in a unified command structure, aiming to get control of the fire as swiftly as possible.
Following the early-season wildfire, State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple offered a word of caution. "This early season conflagration should come as a reminder to Oregonians to be ready for wildfire," Ruiz-Temple stated. She went on to stress the severe predictions for the upcoming summer and urged all Oregonians to be especially vigilant. "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," she added in comments shared by the Oregon State Fire Marshal.
For those affected by the fire and in need of refuge, The Dalles Middle School has opened its doors as a temporary shelter. Additionally, the Wasco County Fairgrounds is available to accommodate livestock and horses. The latest information on evacuations and safety measures can be found through updates from the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, noted by the Oregon State Fire Marshal Newsroom.
