Fire burned in brush, oak, and timber

(InciWeb photo)

MOSIER, Ore. (AP) — Authorities said Saturday a wildfire burning in the scenic Columbia River Gorge has burned 11 homes, with hundreds more threatened.

InciWeb: Mosier Creek Fire Updates

Meanwhile in central Oregon people in hundreds of homes and at least three mobile home parks were told evacuate immediately Saturday evening because of a wildfire. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office issued the order. It was immediately clear how big the blaze was.

Earlier in the day in the Gorge, crews worked to reinforce breaks around the perimeter of the fire burning near Mosier, Oregon, which is between Hood River and The Dalles along Interstate 84.

The fire was 30 percent contained Saturday and had not grown much, but officials fretted rising temperatures and shifting winds could worsen the blaze. About 900 people had been evacuated from 400 homes. A hotel in The Dalles was available as a shelter.

Officials had earlier disclosed that four structures, including two homes, had burned. But further assessment conducted on Friday revealed that 11 homes had been destroyed — two of them unoccupied — as well as two commercial buildings and 18 outbuildings.

Authorities scheduled a virtual community meeting with residents Saturday afternoon to discuss the fire response.

Christie Shaw, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Forestry, said the fire started as crews were mopping up another blaze in the same area. She said winds caused the Mosier Creek fire to spread.

Ground, helicopter and air tanker crews were working the blaze, with extreme heat forecast this weekend. The expected was expected to approach triple-digits by Sunday.

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