Record-breaking season ends By Nathan Wilson Columbia Gorge News CASCADE LOCKS — The Whisky Creek Fire, which ignited July 20 and charred 3,239 acres in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness near Cascade Locks, is no longer burning. Officially contained Nov.
2, all closures have been lifted and this year’s wildfire season is finally over. The impacts in Oregon, however, have been particularly devastating. More than 1.
9 million acres burned this summer and fall, a new state record that’s triple the 10-year average, according to Oregon’s Department of Forestry. Exacerbated by climate change and a scorching July, the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center estimates that humans caused about 60% of fires in Oregon this season, including Whisky Creek. “Not only are we seeing damage to a resource — a beautiful natural area — we’re also seeing the brave firefighters who have to be exposed just because someone wasn’t acting responsibly in the woods,” said Omar Flores, engine captain and type 3 incident commander for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
After receiving a smoke report and hiking six miles through rough terrain, Flores was among the first on scene. They assessed the situation, cleared nearby hiking trails and then established a type 3 incident management team (IMT) with staff from Mt. Hood and Gifford Pinchot national forests, along with the Scenic Area.
A few days passed; then they ordered a complex IMT. Depending on the size and expected dura.
