Single Publication

Whisky Creek Fire Daily Update 

July 26, 2024 
 

Email: 2024.whiskycreek@firenet.gov 

Incident Information Phone Line: 541-208-1743 – daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Whisky Creek Fire Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2024WhiskyCreekFire 

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-news/ormhf-whisky-creek-fire 

Smoke Report: https://www.airnow.gov/ 

Whisky Creek Fire 

0% Contained 

856 Acres 

6 miles SE of Cascade Locks, OR 

Burning in scrub oak, timber, woody debris, and grass  

 
Highlights  

Crews made progress on preparing containment lines to the south of the active fire area yesterday. Heavy equipment was brought in to assist with clearing roads and creating fuel breaks reopening an Eagle Creek Fire contingency line. Conditions were also favorable for an infra red flight allowing for better mapping of the area and a more accurate number of acres burned.  

Operations 

Crews continue to prepare containment lines, clearing roads and trails, to the southeast along the Rainy-Wahtum Trail #409 from Rainy Lake to Wahtum Lake and continuing to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) approximately one mile to the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire burn area. A temporary reroute of the PCT to the Eagle Creek Trail is expected. To the east of the fire, crews continue to strengthen a containment line along the Gorton Creek Trail #408 and identifying potential contingency lines further east. Crew will continue to do fuels reduction work and tie in indirect line along the edge of the wilderness area.  

Fire Behavior & Weather 

The fire is burning within the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness and moving steadily along the eastern edge up Woolly Horn Ridge and west towards Waucoma Ridge. Moderate upslope growth is expected to continue around the fire’s edges with potential for wind to push to the south. Smoke will continue to be visible, especially in the afternoon, as fire consumes denser pockets of vegetation and dead-and-down fuels. Decreasing humidity and light and variable winds will allow for warmer and drier conditions over the area today. This may increase fire activity and smoke, especially in the afternoon. 

Evacuations, Road and Trail Closures, and Restrictions 

The Mt. Hood National Forest and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area have issued a joint emergency closure for the fire area. Closure information can be found on the Mt. Hood National Forest website Alerts & Closures page at: Whisky Creek Fire Closures in Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness.  

Total Fire Resources Assigned 

• Approx. 244 personnel, 5 hand crews, 5 water tenders, 2 dozer, and 2 helicopters.