Burdoin Fire Destroys 14 Homes and Forces Evacuations in Washington

A wildfire that began Friday on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge near White Salmon has expanded to over 10,700 acres and has destroyed at least 14 homes.

The Burdoin Fire is threatening an additional 250 homes, according to fire officials on Monday morning.

Level 3 (Go Now!) evacuation orders are in effect for hundreds of residents in the town of Lyle, Washington, and surrounding areas.

State Route 14, which runs along the Gorge on the Washington side of the river, is closed in both directions from just west of Lyle to just east of Bingen. Drivers are advised to use alternate routes, including Interstate 84 on the Oregon side of the Gorge.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, investigators said.

Incident Commander Leonard Johnson reported Sunday that one firefighter was transported to a nearby hospital with unspecified injuries. No other injuries have been reported.

On Monday morning, management of the fire was handed over to the Northwest 13 Incident Management Team, bringing in additional personnel and resources. There are currently 417 staff members working on the fire.

Cooler temperatures on Monday are aiding firefighting efforts.

“The weather was certainly a help yesterday and will be again today,” said Larisa Bogardus with the Northwest 13 Incident Management Team. “However there is still active burning in the fire’s interior and we are working really hard to get lines established around the perimeter of the fire.”

Rain showers early this week are expected to be followed by a return to higher temperatures, with forecasts indicating a rise into the high 80s in the coming days.