THE DALLES, OR -- A fire southeast of The Dalles has grown to more than 20,000 acres since it was first spotted Tuesday afternoon. The Substation Fire has destroyed one home and several outbuildings; the Red Cross set up a shelter at The Dalles Middle School for those forced to evacuate.
Just before midnight, the State Fire Marshal's Office invoked the Conflagration Act, allowing for resources to be called in from across the state. Fire crews from Central Oregon began leaving for The Dalles early Wednesday morning.
The fire jumped the Deschutes River and is burning in Sherman County. A power outage is affecting much of south Wasco county and, while Highway 197 remains open, drivers are encouraged to use caution.
In Crook County, the lightning-sparked Cemetery Fire in the Ochocos is now estimated at 1,300 acres. State and federal firefighters are working with private landowners and the Post-Paulina Rural Fire protection District to attack that fire, which was discovered Monday.
UPDATE: Bend Fire reports its part of a task force, comprised of personnel from Bend, Sisters-Camp Sherman, Sunriver, Redmond and Alfalfa. The team left Tuesday night for the blaze, which - as of Wednesday morning - is reported to be burning 28,000 acres in Wasco County and 6,000 acres in Sherman County.
Photo Courtesy KPTV FOX 12
