Single Publication

Northwest Team 12

Whisky Creek, Sandstone and Blister Fires

August 31, 2024

Attached is the daily update for the fire.

Fire Information: (541) 208-1743, 8 AM - 8 PM

For all your links to incident information: https://linktr.ee/whisky_creek.2024

Whisky Creek Size: 2,085 acres | Start Date: July 20 | Cause: Human | Containment: 24%

Sandstone Size: 702 acres | Start Date: August 5 | Cause: Lightning | Containment 75%

Total Resources: 413 | Hand Crews: 7 | Engines: 9 | Dozers: 1 | Other Heavy Equipment: 13 | Helicopters: 4

Fire suppression continues on the Whisky Creek Fire, six miles southeast of Cascade Locks, OR and the Sandstone and Blister Creek Fires, nine miles southwest of Ripplebrook, OR. The fires are burning in steep and rugged terrain on the Mt. Hood National Forest where rolling debris and fire-weakened trees challenge firefighting efforts. Firefighter and public safety remain the incident’s top priority. This Labor Day weekend please help prevent wildfires and protect firefighters by recreating responsibly, respecting fire closures, and complying with all fire restrictions.

Northwest Team 12 took command of the fires at 6 AM this morning. Yesterday fire team members worked closely with their counterparts from the outgoing team to ensure a smooth transition of the Whisky Creek, Sandstone, and Blister Creek Fires. NW Teams 10 and 12 would like to thank the local communities for their support and agency partners for their assistance during this transition. 

Whisky Creek: Yesterday crews improved the Tomlike Mountain ridge handline from the Herman Creek Trail north to the fire’s edge. Aerial reconnaissance flights detected minimal fire activity, with most heat concentrated in the Herman Creek area. Some smoke was observed from within the fire perimeter. Firefighters began backhauling, or removing, unnecessary equipment such as hoses and sprinklers from secured fire areas. After weeks of use by heavy machinery and suppression activities, the degraded road surface on Forest Service Road (FSR) 2820-630 was repaired. Today crews will continue backhauling unneeded equipment near Black Lake and patrolling the eastern containment line up to Green Point Mountain. Road repair efforts on FSR 2820 are ongoing.

Sandstone and Blister Creek: Yesterday a helicopter conducted targeted bucket drops on pockets of heat remaining on the Blister Creek Fire’s southern edge. Heavy equipment operators continued mastication efforts, converting vegetation and debris into finer, more manageable materials along FSR 7010 and its spur roads. Firefighters also made progress on grading FSR 7010 to repair damage from heavy firefighting equipment. Today mastication, grading, and monitoring efforts are ongoing. Firefighters will continue to monitor and patrol the fire perimeter on both the Sandstone and Blister Creek Fires.

Weather and Smoke: Hot and dry conditions have settled over the area and will continue for the next several days. This weekend will bring some of the highest temperatures of the incident with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. Air quality conditions are forecast to be good for both fire areas. For more information on smoke conditions in your area, go to: www.AirNow.gov

Closures: Mt. Hood National Forest, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and Hood River County closure information can be found at https://linktr.ee/whisky_creek.2024. Please respect area closure orders for your safety as well as the safety of our firefighters.

Safety: The public plays an important role in preventing the next wildfire; use caution with all potential ignition sources. For prevention tips visit: https://keeporegongreen.org. Fire restrictions are in place within the Mt. Hood National Forest. More information can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mthood/fire. The TFR remains in effect for both fires: https://bit.ly/3T59VWv