HERMISTON — Following a morning briefing on Monday, Sept. 4, with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Green Incident Management Team, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office is maintaining the evacuation levels it made Sunday because of a wildfire.

According to the UCSO, after the OSFM assumed unified command of the scene Monday morning, the sheriff’s office decided to keep in place the evacuation levels it made Sunday in the area of Highway 395 and Bensel Road. The UCSO said another briefing was scheduled at approximately 1 p.m. Monday to re-evaluate evacuation levels.

On Sunday around 6:30 p.m. the UCSO issued a Level 3 evacuation — leave immediately — for north of Bensel and Progress Road across Highway 730 to the Columbia River and east of Bud Draper Road to and including Salmon Point. Earlier that day, it issued a Level 3 evacuation notice for Bowden Lane between Sagebrush and Bensel Road and including Alpine Drive.

A Level 2 evacuation— be set to evacuate at a moment’s notice — was issued for the Hat Rock community and Yacht Club and included the McNary area north of Hwy 730 to the river between Williamette Avenue and Bud Draper Road.

A Level 1 evacuation — be ready — was issued for the McNary area north of Highway730 (Sixth Street) to the river between Devore Road and Williamette Avenue.

Law enforcement and search and rescue personnel went door to door to notify residents.

“Entry to evacuated areas may be denied until conditions are safe,” the UCSO stated.

The UCSO said fire crews held the fire line overnight as they awaited state relief resources that were expected to arrive this morning.

According to the Umatilla County Fire District No. 1, fire crews at 10 p.m. Sunday were still battling a blaze that forced the evacuations and at one point was 5 square miles. The UCFD1 also stated that a “multitude of aircraft” had been brought in to work the fire until dusk.

According to the OSFM, at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sunday it mobilized structural firefighting resources to the Bensel fire after Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act.

“With the declared conflagration, OSFM will mobilize structural firefighters, equipment, and the Green Incident Management Team,” the OSFM stated. The management team mobilizes primarily to fire incidents that threaten lives and structures, according to Oregon.gov.

The OSFM also stated it mobilized fire boss air tankers and a helicopter to support firefighting efforts.

A shelter has been opened at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center, 1705 E. Airport Road, for those needing shelter due to the evacuations.