U.S. Forest Service Mt. Hood National Forest 6780 Hwy 35 Parkdale, OR 97041

Indian Creek Wildfire Update Fire Information (971) 220-6146 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. [email protected]

Saturday, August 26, 2017

8:00 a.m.

Location: Approximately 20 miles west-southwest of Hood River, Oregon in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness on the Hood River Ranger District of the Mt. Hood National Forest

The Indian Creek Fire is currently 327 acres, an increase of 3 acres from yesterday. Weekend Weather Influence on the Fire: Weather is forecasted to bring increasingly challenging conditions. Temperatures are projected to increase to the high 90’s. Relative humidity is expected to drop to the 18-24% range. These conditions combined with winds out of the east, leads to hot, dry and unstable conditions. Aircraft Suppressing the Fire: Yesterday three helicopters and four Super Scoopers worked to suppress the fire by cooling hotspots on the western flank. Two Type-2 (medium) helicopters provided multiple cycles of bucket drops of water from Wahtum Lake. The third helicopter is a Type-3 and is used for reconnaissance. The Super Scoopers are fixed wing aircraft that Gorge visitors have seen skimming the Columbia River this week as they draft water into their belly. The Super Scoopers made multiple cycles yesterday with each load dropping 1,600 gallons and are on call if needed today. Today the Oregon Department of Forestry is assisting the firefighting effort by providing a Type-2 helicopter. Support to New Fire 10 Miles West: Helicopter rappellers assigned to Indian Creek Fire provided initial attack to a new fire that started approximately 10 miles west of the Indian Creek Fire. Rappellers are firefighters who access fires by repelling out of helicopters. Hikers heading up Eagle Creek Trail Trail & Area Closure: The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail remains open but there is a closure in the fire area. Eagle Creek Trail #440 is open its trailhead off I-84 to High Bridge at the 3.3 mile mark. Punchbowl Falls is within the open segment. The southern portion of Eagle Creek Trail and several other trails are closed. Tunnel Falls, Wahtum Lake and Indian Springs Campground are closed. A map and full list of closures can be found on the Inciweb link below. Fire information: Indian Creek Fire Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5403/ Mt. Hood National Forest Facebook: http://facebook.com/mthoodnf

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