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High Winds In Columbia Gorge A Challenge For Fire Crews

Colin Fogarty
/
Northwest News Network

Fire crews outside of The Dalles, Ore. are still trying to get a handle on a wildfire complex that’s destroyed two homes and five outbuildings. It’s burned more than 6,400 acres and is only 10 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon.

The blazes are on steep terrain. That’s made it difficult for crews to make progress. In fact, they’ve lost some ground because of high winds.

“I was out there yesterday afternoon having a hard time holding my hard hat on my head because it was so windy," says David Morman, an information officer with the Oregon Department of Forestry. "So that’s a very difficult situation to try to slow down a fire burning in grass or brush. It really wants to move.”

Wasco County's sheriff expanded evacuation orders to about 80 homes Monday.

On the Web:

Government Flats Complex fire - InciWeb