The destruction from the Eagle Creek fire ripping through the Columbia River Gorge has been unreal. After five intense days, firefighters have reported Thursday they have finally begun to contain the fire. We have all sat back in shock as we watch the fire burn down one of Oregon’s most beloved destinations.
The historic Oneonta Tunnel, built in 1914 for cars traveling along the Historic Columbia River Highway has seen better days after being destroyed by flames. At this time, there is no word on when it will be restored and open again.
I never imagined as I was visiting here only a month ago we’d be seeing this now. With a 20 percent chance of rain Thursday, we could see some relief although the region is still under a “red flag” warning for lightning reported by The Oregonian.
The following are some photos showing the aftermath of the Eagle Creek fire, which appears to actually give us some hope as it may not be as terrible as we all imagined. At the height of the Multnomah Falls fire, our worst fears were the bridge burning and of course the lodge. As you can see below, they both still stand as our brave firefighters are there around the clock fighting this horrific fire.
