The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, in Oregon, in the United States, has begun calling residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed in a mega fire, that has burnt an estimated 49 homes and a total of 3,800 acres.
Stephanie Krell, Public Information Officer, said the area of the Dalles Country Club was downgraded to Level 2, allowing for the reopening of The Dalles Country Club and The Grill Steak & Seafood on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
“This reopening marks a significant step forward for our community as we start the recovery efforts following the Rowena Fire. We extend our sincere gratitude to the owners and staff of The Dalles Country Club and The Grill for their cooperation and hard work and to the entire community for their patience and understanding during this difficult time” said Krell.
Some residents continue to share pictures of burnt homes, such as Patricelli (first name withheld), who said although the property flattened by a fire, is a non- primary home, it is still her family home, bought in the early 90s.
“We were there two weeks ago. It was never fancy (somewhere between a fishing cabin and glamping), but it held decades of memories of sitting on the deck, fishing, biking, reading, our kids playing with the same toys we did. Now it’s all gone, from kayaks, bikes, hiking shoes, life jackets, the pickup I drove in high school, my dad’s boat, to kids’ artwork. Just things, but still, kind of heartbreaking” she said.
Authorities said some fire fighting crews navigated steep slopes and rugged ground, strong unpredictable gusts and areas with no access on foot, along ridgelines.
But while working near the Tooley Lake, the crew from Polk County Task Force 4, Brush 28, rescued a baby deer!
“The little one emerged from the burned area, crying and making a beeline straight for our firefighters, clearly on a mission to find help.”
Picture: Supplied