August 13, 2020 4:25 a.m.  

Oregon Governor Kate Brown has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act in response to the Mosier Creek fire that has broken out in Wasco County.

A release said the fire is currently threatening 300 homes and residents of several areas are in level 3 evacuations. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is assuming command of the fire and will work to bring resources from counties around Oregon to assist in response. The Fire Marshal will be working under unified command with the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Brown said with high temperatures and weather conditions helping fires grow quickly, the emergency declaration will make more state resources available to the fire crews on the front lines in Wasco County and in the Columbia River Gorge.

The release said fire danger levels are on the rise in Oregon with a warming trend this weekend continuing into next week. Residents are asked to take extra precautions to prevent human-caused wildfires.