Living With Fire

Lessons learned from the 2017 Eagle Creek fire have led to programs and policies intended to strengthen long-term resilience in the Columbia Gorge.

The Eagle Creek fire was part of a 2017 wildfire season that was one of the worst in recent Pacific Northwest history. In Oregon alone, over 1,000 fires were recorded. The Eagle Creek fire had a dramatic impact on the Gorge, burning over 48,000 acres of forest and shuttering miles of beloved trails and state landmarks. It also inspired a remarkable public outpouring of support for protecting and stewarding the Gorge.
 
Shortly after the fire’s start, Friends of the Columbia Gorge launched a special initiative to assist community partners, educate the public and advocate for the policies and programs needed to rebuild trails and aid the forest’s natural regeneration. Many of our Eagle Creek response programs, in turn, drew and built upon Friends' efforts to protect and enhance the outstanding resources and communities of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area over the past three decades. These efforts will continue to be necessary as according to numerous studies, the Northwest will see increasingly drier summers in future decades due to climate change. 
 
The Gorge is an interconnected place, where trails and recreation intersect with communities and the wilderness. It is also a resilient place. And building on the efforts launched in the aftermath of the Eagle Creek fire, Friends will continue to advance the programs and policies needed to strengthen long-term resilience and steward the Gorge in an age of increased wildfire danger.