
Over 30 miles of Interstate 84 east of Portland have been shut down as emergency crews battle a 10,000-acre wildfire.
The wildfire began on Saturday evening in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and is believed to have been started by fireworks.
According to KTVB, a 30+ mile section of I-84 was shut down as the fire intensified on Monday evening. Flames have already reached portions of I-84, while other parts are currently plagued by ash and thick smoke.
“If it jumps the road, you’d be driving through a wall of flame,” said Dave Thompson, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation, reported The Columbian.
“It’s just not safe.”
ODOT says that I-84 will most likely stay closed through Tuesday night due to “poor visibility from smoke and the fire getting closer to the road.”
Trucks driving west on I-84 are being redirected off the highway at The Dalles.
There is no projected reopening date at this time.
On the Washington side of the gorge, trucks over 10,000 pounds are banned from driving on State Route 14 between Washougal and Dallesport due to the fire. Officials suggest that all vehicles avoid SR 14 entirely for the time being.