Three homes lost to 33,000-acre Columbia Gorge fire

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Officials say another two homes were destroyed in the Columbia River Gorge wildfire, but the blaze barely grew overnight and firefighters established some containment lines.
 
Lt. Damon Simmons of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office said Thursday the homes are in the same area where one previously burned. Simmons said he does not know if people lived in them.
 
The fire has scorched 52 square miles (33,000 acres) and is 5 percent contained. Evacuation levels remain unchanged.
 
Temperatures have cooled and Simmons says firefighters should make good progress if the weather cooperates.
 
Meanwhile, Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese says deputies arrested a 23-year-old man on charges of theft by deception and a parole violation. Reese says Cody Cunningham tried to obtain clothing from a firefighting crew. Reese says he does not know Cunningham’s intentions, but “certainly they were not good.”

For more on the fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5584/