WASCO CO, — As our community marks the one year anniversary of the Rowena Fire, we pause to remember the profound losses experienced on June 11, 2025, and to honor the strength and resiliency of the Rowena community.
The fire ignited at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, June 11 and, fed by blasting Gorge winds, raced east through the community of Rowena. As approximately 8,000 residents came under evacuation notices, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek issued an Emergency Conflagration Act.
Despite the efforts of 11 hand crews, 53 engines, and more than 450 personnel fighting both wildland and structural fires, the damage was devastating. More than 3,600 acres burned. Because of the speed and intensity of the fire, many community members were unable to reach their homes to save precious belongings, animals, and essentials.
Sixty two homes were lost, along with 92 structures and outbuildings, 127 vehicles, and significant damage to 50 additional homes. In the burnscar area, more than 200 households were directly impacted, and 57 surviving homes faced temporary or longterm loss of water and sewer.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
In the days and weeks that followed, local, regional, and state partners came together to support both immediate needs and longterm recovery. Key to helping the community rebuild and heal, the Rowena Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) was formed in early July to facilitate the complicated coordination required for recovery. As a cooperative body of faithbased, nonprofit, government, business, and community organizations, the LTRG continues to assist families and individuals as they rebuild their lives.
“We are helping many families and individuals with a great team and community support,” saysNatasha Olson, Rowena Recovery Coordinator with Mid-Columbia Community Action Council.
Over the past year, the LTRG has worked with the Rowena community to:
- Distribute more than $110,000 in relief funds and $175,000 in donated building materials and tools to survivors
- Launch a landslide risk review with weather monitoring for evacuation
- Provide technical assistance including arborist resources, hazard tree contacts, infrastructure analysis, and partner support
- Establish disaster case management and recovery coordination
“We have made major progress in getting recovery dollars to Rowena survivors, especially for critical needs like septic systems, water wells, temporary housing, work tools, and basic household recovery expenses. These are needs that make a big difference for families trying to rebuild their lives,” says LTRG CoChair and Deputy Director of the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, Andrew Danies. “Even with the progress we’ve made, there is still a long road ahead. Insurance, personal savings, and early donations only go so far, and many households are still facing major gaps as they work toward stable housing, safe utilities, and longterm recovery.”
These efforts reflect meaningful progress, but recovery remains a longterm process. Nationally, disaster recovery averages 7 to 10 years, and each individual and family moves at their own pace. Recovery brings new challenges every day, with everything from insurance delays and emotional exhaustion to invasive weeds. The United Way of the Columbia Gorge continues to accept donations for survivors of the fire through the Rowena Fire Relief Recovery Fund.
Community members are encouraged to honor the anniversary of this regional disaster by preparing their own homes for wildfire season. Both Oregon and Washington offer free defensible space assessments, and local counties have many resources to help prepare your home.
“A year after the Rowena Fire, many families are still working through major recovery challenges including utilities, septic systems, site readiness, financial gaps, and rebuilding costs. While meaningful progress has been made through strong partnerships and community support, longterm recovery is still ongoing. What continues to stand out most is the resilience of this community and the willingness of people to keep showing up for one another as we move toward rebuilding together,” says Shane Wolfe, President of the Village of Rowena, LTRG Board member, and fire survivor.
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