CASCADE LOCKS, Ore. — A wildfire in the Eagle Creek area of the Columbia River Gorge has railroads keeping a close eye on rail operations. According to CBS affiliate KOIN-6 TV, the 10,000-acre Eagle Creek fire is now burning from Crown Point to Larch Mountain and is including Archer Mountain in Washington State.
The fires, which have been burning in some parts of the gorge since Sept. 2, have prompted Union Pacific officials to suspend operations on the railroad's Portland Subdivision between Troutdale and Hood River east of Portland.
State officials have also closed a section of Interstate 84.
UP representatives warned customers that freight shipments could see delays of between 24 and 48 hours. So far, BNSF Railway, which has tracks on the Washington State side of the Columbia River Gorge, has not issued any track closures or warned of possible delays.
UP rail operations were still operating as normal east of Hood River toward Rufus, Ore., and south toward Bend, Ore., on Tuesday evening.
There are nearly 500 firefighters battling the wildfires, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown says the state is currently working with federal, state, and local partners on providing every resource needed to combat the ongoing fires.