Lee Falls Fire evacuations still in place as wildfire near Henry Hagg Lake rages on
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders remain in place Friday morning for areas adjacent to the Lee Falls Fire near Henry Hagg Lake in Washington County, including the entire community of Cherry Grove.
Officials say the wildfire started around 11 a.m. Thursday and prompted the orders Thursday afternoon as it grew uphill and put several homes in jeopardy. The inferno has since grown to at least 280 acres with 75% containment as of Friday morning.
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Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations: City of Cherry Grove and Washington County residents between Southwest Oak Street and Nixon Drive. Regions west of Lee Road and south of Southwest Sain Creek Road.
Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuations: Area from north of Southwest Sain Creek Road to Scoggins Valley Road and Stepien Road.
For the most up-to-date evacuation zones, residents can visit the Oregon Department of Emergency Management Map.
Displaced community members are encouraged to go to the Knights of Pythias Gaston Lodge at 210 Front Street next to the Gaston Market. The Washington County Fairgrounds is also open to accept displaced horses and livestock.
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Meanwhile, Henry Hagg Lake is temporarily closed so aircraft can assist with firefighting efforts.
As of Thursday evening, the Gaston Fire Department reported at least 60 fire engines, tenders and brush units on the fire and 150 firefighters on the scene of the fire, adding that they would be “working through the night to protect homes and work to establish holding lines for the fire.”
Smoke plumes above trees near Hagg Lake and the town of Gaston in Washington County on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (courtesy Hillsboro Fire and Rescue) Smoke plumes above trees near Hagg Lake and the town of Gaston in Washington County on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (KOIN)
Stefan Meyers, a spokesperson for the Gaston Rural Fire Protection District, told KOIN 6 News the fire likely sparked near a road and quickly grew from there, with agencies from all over the region moving in to help.
“Fire agencies from all over Washington County rallied quickly for mutual aid to support the area and fire response, and at the same time they were doing two things: One was to work around the flanks of the fire to try and get control of it, while also protecting some of the structures that are in this area,” Meyers said.
The swift wind changes combined with mixed brush made for a challenging situation for firefighters as the flames eventually jumped across the Tualatin River, sparking additional acreage, he said.
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So far, no reports have been made for any structures damaged or destroyed by the fire.
Gert Zoutendijik from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office said crews “want people to leave so our firefighters can focus on extinguishing the fire, making sure our homes don’t burn and not have to worry about trying to rescue people where they have to now drive through fire and dangerous areas for everybody or to try to save somebody because they’ve decided to stay.”
Zoutendijik said at least four people have been injured in the fire so far, including two firefighters, one contractor and one civilian.
Just after 9 p.m., the Oregon Department of Forestry announced the Lee Falls Fire was “100% lined,” meaning a control line had been set up around the fire’s perimeter.
“With control lines established around the fire, and many areas plumbed with fire hose, the arduous process of mop up begins. Mop up is the process of cooling the perimeter of the fire to reduce the chance of spot fires or heat from the perimeter igniting dry vegetation outside the fire line,” ODF said in a release. “Once there is sufficient cooling from the outer edge of the control line and the perimeter is cold and black a sufficient distance from the line, it’s then considered a containment line.”
Last month, ODF conducted training at Hagg Lake for firefighters using planes to air-drop water.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue our wildfire coverage.
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