Eagle Creek Fire Investigators Seeking Public's Assistance
(HOOD RIVER, Ore.) — The American Red Cross has set up and continues to operate two shelters for people displaced from their homes by the Eagle Creek Fire.
Since the shelter at Mt. Hood Community College opened last night, the Red Cross has helped more than 75 people with food, water and shelter assistance at this location.
Since the shelter in Stevenson opened on Sunday, the Red Cross has helped more than 150 people.
All of this was allegedly caused by a fifteen year old male from Vancouver, Washington said OSP.
It is believed he and others may have been using fireworks which started the forest fire along the Eagle Creek Trail.
The suspect was then contacted by law enforcement in the parking lot of the trailhead and was interviewed.
No arrests or formal charges have been made. The Oregon State Police is seeking witnesses or those with information about the cause of the fire to come forward.
Anyone who heard fireworks or other explosions in the area of the Eagle Creek Trail/ Punch Bowl Falls on Saturday between 10am to 5PM is urged to contact OSP at 503-375-3555.
In addition to the evacuations in the Cascade Locks and Stevenson areas a level one evacuation notice has been issued for all public forest lands west of Highway 281 and north of Mt. Hood are being put under Level One evacuation notices.
These are public lands where campers, hikers, and hunters may currently be recreating, but no private homes are invovled.
Deputies have been making sweeps to advise anyone in those areas.
The only other areas to be under evacuation notice continues to be the Cascade Locks area, and those evacuation levels have not changed.
Please people remember that what ever you want to light on fire for any reason, any where is, well, just plain stupid!
