(Troutdale, CA)  --  Crews continue to battle the Eagle Creek Fire. The blaze in the Columbia River Gorge has blackened more than 41,000 acres in the past 12 days and stands at 28% containment, as of Friday morning.  Authorities expect the huge fire to keep growing at a slow, steady rate. 

Thursday, aircraft dropped nearly 100,000 gallons of water on the fire. Friday, resources will focus on the northeast corner of the fire to help protect the communities, infrastructure, and other values at risk there as burnout operations continue from Cascade Locks east to Mitchell Point. If conditions permit, helicopters may be used to assist with burnout operations west of Wyeth to bring fire down to the powerline corridor in a controlled manner. Crews will also be reinforcing line from Mitchell Point south to Wahtum Lake. 

Forecasters say rain is coming, and firefighters say it can't come soon enough.