West Side Fire District

**Please do not call dispatch to obtain information** Follow our page for updates.

This is a wildfire emergency alert from Hood River County Sheriff's Office. Level 1 - BE READY to evacuate from the intersection of Hwy 35 and Hwy 30, south to intersection of Eastside Rd and Paasch Dr., east to Elder Rd. and due north to Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.

Esta es una alerta de incendio forestal de parte de la Oficina del Sheriff del condado de Hood River. Nivel 1 - ESTÉ PREPARADO para evacuar de las siguientes zonas: de la intersección
De la Carretera Hwy 35 y la carretera Hwy 30, al Sur de la intersección de la calle Eastside Rd y la calle Paasch Dr., al Este de la calle Elder Rd. y derecho hacia el Norte de la Carretera Estatal Historica del Rio Columbia.

Level 1 - BE READY to evacuate means:

Be aware of danger in your area and stay informed. Check local city and county websites, social media, TV, and radio for updates.
Make plans and prepare to evacuate. Gather necessary supplies for health, safety, and identification. For more info, visit wildfire.oregon.gov.
Act early if you are older, have children, disabilities, or limited access to transportation. Consider moving pets and livestock early.
Plan possible evacuation routes. Use TripCheck.com or call 511 for road closure information.
If you need emergency shelter, call 211 or 1-866-698-6155, visit 211info.org, or text your zip code to 898211. TTY: dial 711 and call 1-866-698-6155. Language interpreters are available by phone. Text is available Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., in Spanish and English.
If you can do so safely, check with your neighbors and share information. Ask for help if you need it. Offer help if you can give it.
This may be the only notice you receive. Don’t wait to evacuate if you feel unsafe. If conditions change, you may receive a Level 2 - BE SET or Level 3 - GO NOW evacuation notice. You do not need to wait for another evacuation notice. Make the best decision for your safety.

Do not call 911 unless experiencing an immediate life safety issue.
Hood River County Sheriff's Office

** Por favor de no hablar a las operadoras de emergencias si necesitan obtener mas informacion sobre los incendios.**

Nivel 1 - ESTAR LISTO para evacuar significa:

Esté consciente del peligro en su área y manténgase informado. Consulte los sitios de internet, las redes sociales, la televisión y la radio local de la ciudad y el condado para obtener actualizaciones.
Tenga un plan y prepárese para evacuar. Reúna lo necesarios para la salud, como medicamentos, gaza, cremas para heridas. Reúna lo necesario para su seguridad y documentos de identificación. Para obtener más información, visite la página wildfire.oregon.gov.
Actúe lo más pronto posible si es mayor de edad, tiene hijos, si tiene alguna discapacidad o si su acceso al transporte es limitado. Considere trasladar las mascotas y el ganado con lo más pronto posible.
Planeé rutas de evacuación. Utilice TripCheck.com o llame al 511 para obtener mas información sobre el cierre de las carreteras.
Si necesita refugio de emergencia, llame al 211 o al 1-866-698-6155, visite 211info.org o envíe un mensaje de texto con su código postal al 898211. TTY: marque 711 y llame al 1-866-698-6155. Hay intérpretes de idiomas disponibles por teléfono. El texto está disponible de lunes a viernes, de 9 a. m. a 5 p. m., en español e inglés.
Si puede hacerlo de forma segura, consulte con sus vecinos y comparta esta información. Pida ayuda si la necesita. Ofrezca ayuda si puede brindarla.
Este puede ser el único aviso que reciba. No espere para evacuar si se siente inseguro. Si las condiciones cambian, es posible que reciba un aviso de evacuación de Nivel 2 - PREPARARSE o Nivel 3 - IR AHORA. No es necesario esperar otro aviso de evacuación. Toma la mejor decisión para tu seguridad.

No llame al 911 a menos que experimente un problema inmediato de seguridad personal.
Oficina del Sheriff del condado de Hood River

Official Fire Information page for the Whisky Creek Fire. Please follow this page for current updates.

2024 Whisky Creek Fire Official fire information for the Whisky Creek Fire on Mt. Hood National Forest.

We are closely monitoring this fire. Resources from the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area - U.S. Forest Service and the Mt. Hood National Forest are working to gain access and better assess the situation.

*UPDATE 2:13 pm* The previous fire weather watch has now been upgraded to a RED FLAG WARNING until 9:00 am Wednesday. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

This morning at 11:23 West Side RFPD was dispatched to the area of Tucker Rd. & Guinard Rd. for a ground cover fire. Units arrived to a fast moving fire with multiple structures threatened. Additional resources were immediately requested from Wy'East Volunteer Fire and EMS Association and US Forest Service. The fire has been stopped at approximately .5 acres with no damage or loss to structures. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Brush 52 and 513 responded mutual aid to assist Hood River Fire & EMS with a brush fire in the area of Wine Country and Mt. Adams roads. Forward progress of the fire has been slowed. Please avoid the area as crews work to fully extinguish the fire.

Wildland fire reported in Hood River: Avoid area of Wine Country, Mt. Adams roads This is a continuing story and will be updated as information becomes available.

On 7/9, Brush 52 responded to the as part of the Hood River County Immediate Need Task Force. Crews spent the night supporting local resources with initial attack suppression efforts. Hood River County units were released from the fire this morning and have returned safely back to the area.

BREAKING: We are mobilizing resources to the burning in Wasco County. The fire sparked this afternoon between Dufur and Tygh Valley and has grown to 2,500 acres.

The Wasco County Sheriff has level 1,2, and 3 evacuations in place. Our Green Incident Management Team is mobilizing and will be briefed tonight at 11. Three structural task forces will be briefed tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. and a fourth will arrive in the afternoon.

Firefighters from across the region are currently fighting the fire.

For the latest on evacuations, please follow the Wasco County Sheriff's Office.

(📸 Wasco County Sheriff's Office)

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM THIS EVENING FOR WIND, AS WELL AS DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS.

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for hot, dry, and unstable conditions. Winds are expected to increase today into tomorrow evening.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

We wish everyone a safe and happy 4th of July! With the expected hot and very dry conditions please be extra cautious as you celebrate.

Beginning Monday, July 1st, Regulated Use Closure (RUC) will go into effect in Hood River and Wasco County. This means County Forest trails on Middle Mt., Pinemont, and Fir Mt. (Eastside) will be closed to motorized use due to fire danger.

Open campfires throughout the County Forest are prohibited. The only allowed campfires are inside fire rings at the Kingsley Campground at this time. However, portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.

A waiver of the RUC restrictions for OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle/Motorized) use will be in place again this year for Hood River County’s Northwest Area Trail System (Post Canyon) until further notice.

The Oregon Department of Forestry puts RUC regulations in place during fire season to reduce fire starts. For more information, visit: odfcentraloregon.com.

Join us on July 1 in The Dalles for an open house that gives you the opportunity to talk to agency representatives and get your questions answered regarding the draft Wildfire Hazard Map.

Look what popped up today. Thanks for sharing Cody Orchards Farm Stand/ The Farmer In Odell!

Whomever dropped off this AMAZING set, THANK YOU!

The sheet metal makes me wonder if my Grandpa Carl Davidson made this…that looks like his writing…
My Grandpa Carl and Uncle Ben were volunteer fire fighters at West Side.

Please let me know who you are so I can thank you!!!

Hood River County Burn Ban takes effect Monday, 06/17/2024. This includes all outdoor debris piles and burn barrels. Non-emergency burn complaints can be reported to (541) 386-2711.

Dear Citizens of the West Side Fire District,

On behalf of the West Side Fire District Board of Directors, Chiefs, staff, and all the volunteers we would like to extend our sincerest, “Thank You” and gratitude for your overwhelming support passing the five-year replacement local option levy. Your support for this replacement levy will allow the Fire District to enhance our current level of staffing to provide 24/7 emergency response for fires and emergency medical responses, faster response times, and improve cardiac arrest survival rates.

Your support for the Fire District has been overwhelming, which shows through a strong 62% passage. By passing this levy, you are providing the funding necessary for us to operate and provide these critical services to the citizens of our community now and for years to come.

Thank you to the many volunteers who helped lead the advocacy campaign. Thank you, also, to the numerous civic leaders, businesses, and community members who endorsed the levy and helped support its passage.

To us, this vote of support for our funding reflects your appreciation of our Fire District and the services we provide. We shall continue to be good stewards with both your funds and your trust.

On behalf of everyone at the West Side Fire District, “Thank you”. With sincere gratitude,

Doug Kelly
Chief Administrative Officer

Spread the word, we need your help! This springs wet start and warming trend has lead to an abundance of vegetation growth. If you have a fire hydrant near your home please take time to assure at least 3 feet is cleared in all directions around the hydrant. Remember in an emergency every second counts!

Effective Monday, 5/13/24
Hood River County burn hours reduce to 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. with valid permit.

*Update: All 911 services restored.

Increasing temperatures and stronger winds are forecasted throughout the area. Please use extreme caution and closely monitor your local jurisdiction for changes to burn regulations.

With toasty temps and wind expected over the next few days in Oregon, please hold off on burning yard debris. Also, check on older burns to make sure they are out completely and won't reignite.

Out of control debris burns are the number one cause of human-sparked wildfires in Oregon. Be this summer and prevent a costly outdoor fire!

MORE TIPS: keeporegongreen.org/backyard-debris-burning-safely/

This morning Capt. Adams spent time talking fire safety with the students at MCCC Country Club Head Start. Students toured the fire engine and practiced stop, drop & roll. What a great group of kids!

Hood River County is updating its Natural Hazard
Mitigation Plan in 2024 and we need your help!
Please take our survey by scanning the QR code
or by visiting https://bit.ly/2024_hazard_survey.
The survey will close on Friday, May 10th.

Every person who takes the survey may enter a raffle
drawing for one of two emergency preparedness kits.
Thank you for helping us make our community safer!

Yesterday afternoon Squad 53 with two personnel responded mutual aid to Wy'East Volunteer Fire and EMS Association for an out of control debris burn. Crews were challenged by steep terrain and heavy vegetation. Fire was stopped at approximately .5 acres with no loss of structures. Escaped debris burns are the number one cause of wildland fires in the State of Oregon. Please remember to follow your local jurisdiction’s burn regulations and be extra cautious when deciding to burn.

West Side Rural Fire Protection District is seeking qualified firefighters to apply for temporary seasonal positions. These positions are being funded through a grant from the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Additional info can be found at westsidefire.com.

Thank you to everyone for supporting our Volunteer’s Blossom Breakfast!

Election Day is May 21, 2024. Remember to vote.

Our Volunteer's Blossom Breakfast is a week away! We look forward to seeing everyone next Sunday 4/21, 7:00-11:00 am.

This morning we were joined by instructors from Banditos Rescue Training LLC. for a RIT company basics drill. RIT companies are assigned to rescue firefighters in the event of an on scene emergency. Thank you to our students for investing time to better serve our communities.

West Side personnel participated in a live fire exercise today with other firefighters from throughout the region. This training provided vital opportunity for new firefighters to experience operating within a burning structure. Thank you Mid Columbia Fire Rescue for hosting this event!

If you see smoke in the area of Station 1 at 1400 W 8 th Street. Do not be alarmed MCFR is working with the regional training group. Today we are doing a live fire exercise for the training group. We have firefighters here from Stevenson Wa., WyEast Fire District, West Side Fire District, Hood River Fire Department, Wamic Fire District and Mosier Fire District . Instructional Cadre for today are from MCFR DC Coleman, DC Beckner, DC Cole, Lt. Kiyokawa and Lt. Ishizaka. MCFR is glad to be able to provide this vital training to our regional partners.