CHERRY GROVE, Ore. — The Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) has issued Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations for a "fast-moving" fire burning near Cherry Grove, dubbed the Lee Falls Fire. The entire community of Cherry Grove and areas on the southwest side of Henry Hagg Lake have been ordered to evacuate.
The lake, located about four miles northeast of the fire's origin point, has been closed so firefighting planes can safely access the lake and help fight the fire.
Here's a look at the evacuation levels for this fire as of 6:30 p.m. Thursday:
- Level 3 (Go Now): Community of Cherry Grove, Southwest Oak Street and Southwest Nixon Drive, areas west of Lee Road and south of Southwest Sain Creek Road
- Level 1 (Be Ready): North of Southwest Sain Creek Road to Southwest Scoggins Valley Road, to Southwest Stepien Road
An interactive map of wildfire evacuation zones can be found here (search for Lee Falls to locate the area)
"Non-residents are not allowed in the area and residents should not return to their homes," WSCO said Thursday, later adding, "law enforcement is actively working in the area to help with evacuations. Avoid the area."
As of 9:45 p.m. Thursday, the Lee Falls Fire had burned at least 200 acres and was 0% contained, fire officials said. There were 60 units on the fire, including about 150 firefighters. Many were expected to work through the night.
"At night it’s an opportunity for firefighters as humidity starts to come back in and the temperatures start to go down," said Stefan Myers, a spokesman for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue currently supporting the Gaston Rural Fire Protection District. "That can be an opportunity. We are hopeful on the winds, that those do not become problematic, but overnight is an opportunity to make progress."
Most crews were being positioned for "point protection," meaning they're assigned to protect a home by removing fuels around it and defending it as long as they're able. According to fire officials, it was safe to say that the fire was "encroaching on Cherry Grove."
At least two people have been injured in the fire. A citizen was hurt and taken to a medical facility in a private vehicle. A firefighter was also injured but their injuries were minor and they weren't taken to the hospital.
Photos: Fire near Hagg Lake
The fire started around 11 a.m. Thursday near the corner of Southwest Summit Avenue and Lee Falls Road, west of Cherry Grove, an unincorporated community of about 500 people located about six miles west of Gaston and 11 miles southwest of Forest Grove. Fire officials said the fire quickly moved up the hill to where several homes were located.
"They were making good progress and feeling really good about it," Myers said. "(But), as happens sometimes in the afternoon, you have a wind shift. It is in challenging fuels … Whenever you are in timber, whenever you are in a lot of receptive fuels that are pretty dry, it can change with those wind shifts into a really more challenging situation."
Resources from every department in Washington County and a Yamhill County task force responded to work on the fire. But the fire, Myers said, spotted across the Tualatin River and spread on the other side. Meanwhile, the wind pushed the flames toward the town of Cherry Grove.
"A lot of times in these fires, you are not looking at flame fronts, per se, that are threatening homes or threatening growth of the fire," Myers said. "You are looking at embers that find receptive fuels, find a place to ignite, and that is what grows fires quickly."
By working close to the threatened homes, firefighters hope to clear away anything that will easily catch fire when flying embers blow in.
Myers said firefighter task forces from other areas in Multnomah and Washington counties were being mobilized to come support the crews already on-scene. With so many crews deployed in eastern Oregon due to the wildfires out there, resources have been stretched thin.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
Resident discusses scramble to evacuate
Some evacuees ended up in a park near a Gaston fire station. A woman named Shauna, who lives near where the fire is burning, said she left Thursday afternoon with two other members of her family, their four dogs and two cats. She said they planned to stay the night at the field Thursday night.
"When we left, I could see the flames above the trees. The ashes were coming down. My skin was super hot. It was hard to breathe," she said. "We were just trying to gather up all of the animals that we could, get them in the cars loaded up and just take off with what we had."
Shauna said it's really a tight-knit community. People have known each other for a long time and they're all coming together to help each other during this time of need.
Gaston City Hall was open for people needing shelter until 5 p.m. Thursday. After 5 p.m., the Knights of Pythias Gaston Lodge, located at 210 Front Street next to the Gaston Market, was open to evacuees. At 4:30 p.m. Thursday, the Washington County Fairgrounds became available to accept horses and livestock needing shelter. The New Life Christian Fellowship Church in Gaston at 202 Church Street, has also opened its doors as a temporary shelter for displaced community members.
The American Red Cross is assisting church staff with coordinating the shelter response. Community members can contact the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 or 503-284-1234 for shelter information.
Here's what evacuation levels mean
Level 1 Notice - Be Ready: Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area and monitor local media outlets for information. Residents with special needs should take note and begin making arrangements to evacuate. Evacuations at this time are voluntary.
Level 2 Notice - Be Set: This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or outside of the affected area, or if choosing to remain, to be ready at a moment's notice. Emergency services cannot guarantee that they will be able to notify you if conditions rapidly deteriorate.
Level 3 Notice - Go Now: Danger to your area is current or imminent, and you should leave immediately. Listen to local media and watch for emergency personnel who may be coming by to give further instructions regarding the evacuation.
This is a developing story and may be updated as more information is made available.