Multiple boathouses destroyed by fire at The Dalles Marina tonight, Aug. 1

People can be seen fighting the fire on the houseboat on Finger B at The Dalles Marina, it is the second fire to strike the floating vacation homes in 13 months.

By Tom Peterson

A fire at The Dalles Marina had destroyed several houseboats as of 9:30 p.m. this evening, Aug. 1, and it did not appear to be slowing as the tightly placed vacation homes can easily ignite neighboring properties.

It appeared that four had been destroyed and a fifth was engulfed as of 9:09 p.m. There showed no sign of the blaze being under control at that point in time.

People could be seen retrieving pets at nearby houseboats; others who may have been fighting the blaze were also seen jumping into the water.

Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue as well as multiple agencies had fire engines and apparatus on hand, but it appeared they were limited in fighting the blaze as access was limited to narrow docks. Much water was being used to cool down properties near the blaze to prevent the spreading of the fire.

Boats could be seen leaving the marina as the fire progressed along the B Finger of the docks.

Northern Wasco County PUD reported a power outage caused by the Fire at the Marina on Facebook.

The fire gathered a small crowd that watched the fire from the Riverside Trail. Cars were also pulled over on Brewery Grade so their owners could catch a glimpse of the hot orange fire that was sending billows of black and white smoke in the air.

It was the second blaze to strike the Marina in little more than a year. On July 4, 2021, a fire destroyed 8 houseboats and sank two vessels, costing millions of dollars in combined damage.

CCCNews will provide a more detailed report on tonight’s fire on Tuesday, Aug. 2.