Lewis and Clark's Columbia River
Lewis & Clark's Columbia River - "200 Years Later"
"Eagle Creek Fire 2017"
Includes ... Eagle Creek Fire 2017 ...
Image, 2017, Cascade Locks from Stevenson, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Government Cove, east of Cascade Locks, Oregon. View from Stevenson, Washington. Image taken September 11, 2017.


Eagle Creek Fire 2017 ...
The Eagle Creek Fire started on the afternoon of September 2, 2017, by some immature youths playing with fireworks. The fire quickly engulfed the Columbia Gorge behind Bonneville Dam. By September 5th the fire had moved west towards the Crown Point area, leaving behind only remnants of the fire visible from the Washington side of the dam. As of October 13 the fire had grown to 48,831 acres and was 50% contained and areas from Cascade Locks to Troutdale had been impacted.

Incident Overview ...
Incident Overview:

"The Eagle Creek Fire was reported September 2 at approximately 4 p.m. in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area near the town of Cascade Locks, Oregon. The fire grew to 3,000 acres overnight that first night. During the night of September 5th and 5th, east winds, combined with excessive heat caused the fire rapidly increase in size pushing westward.

By the morning of September 5th, the fire had grown to over 20,000 acreas and had spotted across the Columbia River into Washington near Archer Mountain. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels helped slow fire growth over the next several days.

As of October 13th, the fire is 48,831 acres and is 50% contained. Minimal Fire growth is expected. Most of the fire suppression to repair efforts have been completed. ...

A closure area remains in place for the fire area for public and firefighter safety, which is the top priority implemented by fire managers. The cause of the Eagle Creek Fire is under investigation by the Oregon State Police.


Source:    "Inciweb.nwcg.gov" website, October 14, 2017.



Personal Timeline

  • September 2 ... Fire starts
  • September 4 ... Sunset, Vancouver, Washington
  • September 5 ... Sunrise, Smoke in Washougal, Drive to Hamilton Island via Washington SR 14
  • September 11 ... Drive to Stevenson, Washington SR 14
  • September 15 ... Smoke to the East, driving Washington SR 500 and Interstate 205
  • September 23 ... Drive to Beacon Rock and Hamilton Island, Washington SR 14
  • September 25 ... Drive to Hood River and back, Interstate 84
  • October 4 ... Drive to Mosier and back, Interstate 84
  • October 9 ... Drive to Cascade Locks and back via Stevenson, Interstate 84 and Washington SR 14
  • November 22 ... Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH) Opens to Bridal Veil
  • December 6 ... Drive to Hood River via HCRH


September 4 and 5, 2017, Vancouver, Washington ...
Monday, September 4, 2017 ... RED sunset.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017 ... RED sunrise.

Image, 2017, Vancouver, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Sun setting through the smoke, Vancouver, Washington. Image taken September 4, 2017.
Image, 2017, Vancouver, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Sun rising through the smoke, Vancouver, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.


September 5, 2017, Vancouver, Washington ...
Tuesday, September 5, 2017 ... Ash fallout from the fires everywhere.

Image, 2017, Vancouver, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Ash fallout, Vancouver, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.
Image, 2017, Vancouver, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Ash fallout on truck, Vancouver, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.
Image, 2017, Vancouver, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Ash fallout on truck, Vancouver, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.


September 5, 2017, Washougal, Washington ...
Tuesday, September 5, 2017, afternoon ... Drove to Washougal, Washington, to photograph the smoke in the Gorge.

Image, 2017, Vancouver, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Heading east on Route 500, Vancouver, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.
Image, 2017, Columbia River, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Smokey Columbia River, looking upstream, from Washougal, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.
Image, 2017, Columbia River, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Smokey Columbia River, looking across, from Washougal, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.

Note line of ash and debris from the fire floating on the Columbia.


September 5, 2017, Bonneville Dam at Hamilton Island, Washington ...
Tuesday, September 5, 2017, evening ... Drove to the Dam Access Road at Bonneville Dam (Hamilton Island) to photograph the fire. The Eagle Creek Fire started on the afternoon of September 2 and fully engulfed the hills behind Bonneville Dam however, by the evening of September 5th, the fire had moved towards the Crown Point area leaving behind only fire visible on ridges downstream from the dam.

Image, 2017, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Eagle Creek fire, as seen from Bonneville Dam, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.
Image, 2017, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Eagle Creek fire, as seen from Bonneville Dam, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.


September 5, 2017, "Torching" ...
Tuesday, September 5, 2017, evening ... Drove to the Dam Access Road at Bonneville Dam (Hamilton Island) to photograph the fire.

  • "Torching": The ignition and flare-up of a tree or small group of trees, usually from bottom to top.
  • "Candle" or "Candling": A single tree or a very small clump of trees which is burning from the bottom up.
  • "Candling" or "Torching": a single tree or a small clump of trees is said to “candle” or “torch” when its foliage ignites and flares up, usually from bottom to top.

Image, 2017, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		"Torching" ... Eagle Creek fire, as seen from Bonneville Dam, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.
Image, 2017, Vancouver, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		"Torching" ... Remnants of the Eagle Creek Fire, Oregon, as seen from Bonneville Dam, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.


September 5, 2017, Bonneville Dam with Full Moon ...
BEAUTIFUL full moon rising, shining red through the smoke.

Image, 2017, Bonneville Dam, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Bonneville Dam with full moon, as seen from Bonneville Dam, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.
Image, 2017, Bonneville Dam, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Full moon through smoke from the Eagle Creek fire, as seen from Bonneville Dam, Washington. Image taken September 5, 2017.


September 11, 2017, View from Cape Horn ...
Drove out via Washington State Route 14 to Bonneville Dam (Hamilton Island) and Stevenson for views of the Eagle Creek Fire. While we saw no flames there was alot of smoke.

Image, 2017, Bonneville Dam, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Smoke in the Gorge, view from Washington Highway 14 at Cape Horn. Image taken September 11, 2017.


September 11, 2017, Views from Hamilton Island ...
Drove out via Washington State Route 14 to Bonneville Dam (Hamilton Island) and Stevenson for views of the Eagle Creek Fire. While we saw no flames there was alot of smoke.

Image, 2017, Bonneville Dam, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Bonneville Dam and smoke from the Eagle Creek Fire, Oregon. View from Hamilton Island, Washington. Image taken September 11, 2017.
Image, 2017, Bonneville Dam, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Smokey valley at Bonneville Dam, Eagle Creek Fire, Oregon. View from Hamilton Island, Washington. Image taken September 11, 2017.


September 11, 2017, Burning Tree ...
Drove out via Washington State Route 14 to Bonneville Dam (Hamilton Island) and Stevenson for views of the Eagle Creek Fire. While we saw no flames there was alot of smoke.

Image, 2017, Bonneville Dam, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Burning tree at Bonneville Dam, Eagle Creek Fire, Oregon. View from Hamilton Island, Washington. Image taken September 11, 2017.
Image, 2017, Bonneville Dam, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Closein, Burning tree at Bonneville Dam, Eagle Creek Fire, Oregon. View from Hamilton Island, Washington. Image taken September 11, 2017.


September 11, 2017, Views from Stevenson, Washington ...
Drove out via Washington State Route 14 to Bonneville Dam (Hamilton Island) and Stevenson for views of the Eagle Creek Fire. While we saw no flames there was alot of smoke.

Image, 2017, Cascade Locks from Stevenson, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Government Cove, east of Cascade Locks, Oregon. View from Stevenson, Washington. Image taken September 11, 2017.
Image, 2017, Cascade Locks from Stevenson, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Government Cove, east of Cascade Locks, Oregon. View from Stevenson, Washington. Image taken September 11, 2017.
Image, 2017, Cascade Locks from Stevenson, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Smoke and burning areas above Cascade Locks, Oregon. View from Stevenson, Washington. Image taken September 11, 2017.


September 15, 2017, Smoke to the East ...
East on Washington State Route 500 to north on Interstate 205 --- watched the Eagle Creek Fire smoke in the east.

Image, 2017, Vancouver, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Smoke from the Eagle Creek Fire seen in the east while on Washington State Route 500, heading east, Vancouver, Washington. Image taken September 15, 2017.
Image, 2017, Vancouver, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Smoke from the Eagle Creek Fire seen in the east, seen while heading north on Interstate 205, Vancouver, Washington. Image taken September 15, 2017.


September 23, 2017, Bonneville Dam ...
Drive to Beacon Rock and Hamilton Island, via Washington State Route 14.

Image, 2017, Bonneville Dam, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Bonneville Dam as seen from Dam Access Road, Hamilton Island, Washington. Image taken September 23, 2017.
Image, 2017, Bonneville Dam, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Bonneville Dam as seen from Dam Access Road, Hamilton Island, Washington. Image taken September 23, 2017.
Image, 2017, Bonneville Dam, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Wauna Point, downstream of Bonneville Dam, as seen from Dam Access Road, Hamilton Island, Washington. Image taken September 23, 2017.


September 25, 2017, Interstate 84 ... Eastbound
Westbound Interstate 84 re-opened on September 14th and eastbound Interstate 84 re-opened on September 23rd. On September 25th we drove it both directions.

[Angels Rest] ... {Multnomah Falls] ... [HCRH State Trail] ... [Toothrock Tunnel (Bonneville Tunnel)] ... [Cascade Fish Hatchery (Eagle Creek)] ... [Cascade Locks] ...


Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Angels Rest as seen from Interstate 84, Oregon. View from moving car heading east. Image taken September 25, 2017.
Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Multnomah Falls, from Interstate 84, Oregon. View from moving car heading east. Image taken September 25, 2017.
Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		McCord Creek HCRH State Trail trailhead at Yeon State Park, as seen from Interstate 84, Oregon. View from moving car heading east. Image taken September 25, 2017.
Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		West of Eagle Creek, from Interstate 84, Oregon. View from moving car heading east. Image taken September 25, 2017.
Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Approaching Toothrock Tunnel, from Interstate 84, Oregon. View from moving car heading east. Image taken September 25, 2017.
Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Toothrock Tunnel, from Interstate 84, Oregon. View from moving car heading east. Image taken September 25, 2017.
Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		West Portal, Toothrock Tunnel, from Interstate 84, Oregon. View from moving car heading east. Image taken September 25, 2017.
Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Cascade Fish Hatchery and the Eagle Creek drainage, from Interstate 84, Oregon. View from moving car heading east. Image taken September 25, 2017.


September 25, 2017, Interstate 84 ... Cascade Locks area
Westbound Interstate 84 re-opened on September 14th and eastbound Interstate 84 re-opened on September 23rd. On September 25th we drove it both directions.

Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Interstate 84 heading east, at Cascade Locks, Oregon. View from moving car just west of Cascade Locks. Image taken September 25, 2017.
Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Interstate 84 heading east, at Cascade Locks, Oregon. View from moving car just west of Cascade Locks. Image taken September 25, 2017.
Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Interstate 84 heading east, at Cascade Locks, Oregon. View from moving car just west of Cascade Locks. Image taken September 25, 2017.
Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Interstate 84 heading east, at Cascade Locks, Oregon. View from moving car just west of Cascade Locks. Image taken September 25, 2017.


September 25, 2017, Interstate 84 ... Westbound
Westbound Interstate 84 re-opened on September 14th and eastbound Interstate 84 re-opened on September 23rd. On September 25th we drove it both directions.

Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		East Multnomah Falls Viaduct, as seen from Interstate 84, Oregon. View from moving car heading west. Image taken September 25, 2017.


October 4, 2017, Interstate 84 near Warrendale ...
Drove to Hood River and Mosier, Interstate 84 both directions.

Image, 2017, Multnomah Falls, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Multnomah Falls, Oregon. View from driving east on Interstate 84. Image taken October 4, 2017.
Image, 2017, McCord and Moffett Creeks area, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		HCRH State Trail between McCord and Moffett Creeks, Oregon. View from driving east on Interstate 84. Image taken October 4, 2017.
Image, 2017, near Warrendale, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Eagle Creek Fire burn area near Warrendale, Oregon. View from driving west on Interstate 84. Image taken October 4, 2017.


October 9, 2017, Interstate 84 at Cascade Locks ...
Driving east on Interstate 84 to Cascade Locks, Oregon. Came back across the Bridge of the Gods to head west on Washington State Route 14.

Image, 2017, Interstate 84, Eagle Creek Fire, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		East Multnomah Falls Viaduct, as seen from Interstate 84, Oregon. View from moving car heading east. Image taken October 9, 2017.
Image, 2017, I-84 at Cascade Locks, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Interstate 84 at Cascade Locks, Oregon. View from moving car. Image taken October 9, 2017.


December 6, 2017, Historic Columbia River Highway ...
Drove to Hood River via the Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH). The HCRH was opened November 22 from Chanticleer Point to Bridal Veil. Heading east, fire damage began just west of Shepperds Dell.

Image, 2017, HCRH, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH) west of Shepperds Dell. View from moving car headed east on the HCRH. Image taken December 6, 2017.
Image, 2017, HCRH, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH) west of Shepperds Dell. View from moving car headed east on the HCRH. Some burned trees were removed for safety. Image taken December 6, 2017.
Image, 2017, HCRH, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH) at Bishops Cap. Foreground burned trees were removed for safety. Image taken December 6, 2017.
Image, 2017, HCRH, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH), east side of Bishops Cap (on right). View from moving car headed east on the HCRH. Image taken December 6, 2017.


From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...

Clark, ...
 



Columbia River GorgeReturn to
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*River Miles [RM] are approximate, in statute miles, and were determined from USGS topo maps, obtained from NOAA nautical charts, or obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website, 2003

Sources:
  • British Columbia "Wildfire Rank", 2017;
  • "Inciweb.nwcg.gov" website, Eagle Creek Fire, 2017;
  • U.S. Forest Service "Fire Terminology", 2017;


All Lewis and Clark quotations from Gary Moulton editions of the Lewis and Clark Journals, University of Nebraska Press, all attempts have been made to type the quotations exactly as in the Moulton editions, however typing errors introduced by this web author cannot be ruled out; location interpretation from variety of sources, including this website author.
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December 2017