Fire evacuates Sixth Street stores

The fire burned grass and bushes on its way to Fred Meyer’s garden and electronics side, spurring the evacuation order. Then it headed for C.H. Urness Motors and Super 8. “It was super long, but very narrow,” stretching 2.8 acres between freeway and flammable businesses, he said.

No buildings burned, but “it exposed and got into some of the materials and products behind Fred Meyer, it got into the garden center,” said Palmer.

The flames singed a Fred Meyer sign, damaged guardrails and their supports along I-84, and crisped some landscaping near the freeway exit behind Super 8.

An ember jumped I-84, landing in combustible materials near businesses on the opposite side. A bystander put the ember out before it could spread, Palmer said.

Four hours after the first report, at 8 or 8:15 p.m., five responding agencies finished putting the fire out, and about 50 fire personnel went home.

Although dangerous to several buildings, the fire was “not really too surprising,” Palmer said. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue has responded to “at least a couple” smoldering wood-chip fires in the area.

“Gotta get people to be very careful of what they potentially throw out of their cars,” he said.

With high temperatures and relative humidity below 19 or 20%, even a cigarette can start a fire — as can “any sort of flame or glowing ember."

MCFR, Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon Department of Forestry, Dallesport and Dufur responded to defend the businesses.

Wasco County Sheriff deputies and The Dalles Police came to help barricade and close the fire area.

A Hood River task force was dispatched, but released before it arrived so it could turn around and fight a ground-cover fire which burnt a small area near the State Street Bridge at 5:41 p.m., just east of City of Hood River.

With average temperature above 60 degrees and winds gusting up to 20 mph, it was a brisk week for wildfires in the Gorge.