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It Could Have Been Me Who Started the Eagle Creek Fire
Why fires and fireworks aren’t worth it in dry conditions
On September 2, 2017, a group of teenagers went for a hike on the Eagle Creek trail, 40 minutes west of Portland, Oregon.
Eagle Creek was arguably the most popular hiking trail in the entire state. It meandered upstream along the gushing creek, through lush forest, and past several gorgeous waterfalls, until it eventually connected to the Pacific Crest Trail where it served as a popular alternate route for thru-hikers.
A 15-year-old boy in the group —with friends recording him on their phones — lit a firework and tossed it into a canyon, ending Eagle Creek as we know it.
Fire broke out that afternoon. By morning, it had grown to 3,000 acres. 153 hikers were trapped near Tunnel Falls overnight and had to be rescued. Ultimately, the fire grew to almost 50,000 acres, destroying some of the Columbia Gorge’s most treasured hiking areas, threatening the town of Cascade Locks, and depositing up to an inch of ash all over Portland.
None of us will see the full splendor of Eagle Creek again in this lifetime.
As you can imagine, loads of people were livid at the boy. People called for his imprisonment and even his death.
