GASTON, Ore. (KATU) — People in the small community of Cherry Grove were asked to leave their homes Thursday evening as a brush fire raged near Hagg Lake in Washington County.
About 500 people live in this community.
SW Oak ST and SW Nixon DR are also under Level 3 evacuation orders (Leave Immediately).
Alert Level 3 was raised at 6:30 p.m. west of Lee Road and south of SW Sain Creek Road. Alert Level 1 (Be Ready) was raised north of SW Sain Creek Road to SW Scoggins Valley Road and SW Stepien Road.
According to Oregon Emergency Management, nearly 400 buildings are within the Level 3 evacuation zone.
Two people were injured, one of them was a firefighter.
The fire was more than 100 acres in size and was 0% contained by early Thursday evening.
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Hillsboro Fire Department spokeswoman Piseth Pisch said authorities had notified residents of 18 homes about the fire danger nearby.
“Currently no buildings have burned down, although some of these houses are within 90 meters,” he said.
On Thursday, temperatures were over 30 degrees, making the work for the firefighters a challenge.
The injured firefighter did not have to be taken to hospital, but a civilian was taken to a hospital. The extent of the injuries to both people was not immediately known.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said Hagg Lake was closed so planes could take on water. The park was also closed.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
