Mark Graves | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Oregonians grieve as Eagle Creek fire burns

As thousands of acres continued to burn Tuesday in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregonians took to social media to share their heartbreak for one of the Pacific Northwest's premier outdoor destinations now in hazard's way. The Eagle Creek fire, which started Saturday and by Tuesday afternoon was burning across an estimated 10,000 acres in Oregon and Washington, affects dozens of trails and waterfalls, including the beloved Multnomah Falls. We've collected social media responses to the fire and will continue to add to this story. Have a photo you'd like to share? Email sbakall@oregonian.com or tweet @sambakall.

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"This was the view from my home in White Salmon, WA, Saturday evening."

-- Lydie Boyer

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Courtney Scott

"I hiked in Eagle Creek dozens of times. I hope all the deer and other

critters made it out safely. The forest will grow back in time, but this

is a dark day for the beautiful gorge, preserved as a national treasure,

and then heedlessly torched."

-- Courtney Scott, N.E. Portland

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Steve Suo | The Oregonian/OregonLive

The Eagle Creek fire was burning close to major landmarks in the Columbia River Gorge. This map is based on perimeter data released overnight early Wednesday by federal managers.

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Richard Barker

"My family and I often travel through the Columbia River Gorge to visit family in Eastern Oregon. A highlight of our trips are always the stops at Multnomah Falls and other amazing sites along the trip. This is a devastating disaster..."

-- The Barker Family

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Moose Kunowsky

This is so incredibly unreal. My heart is on the ground. We are losing so much this summer.

This picture was taken about 25 years ago by my son, Moose Kunowsky. He was 10, on a Boy Scout hike on the Eagle Creek Trail. Someone held onto his belt while he leaned over and took this shot from the top of Multnomah Falls. Looking down you can see the Benson Bridge and the viewing area at the Lodge."

-- BJ Thomas, Bend, Oregon

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Carol Rushing

"I visited this area with my daughter in April this year because I especially wanted to see Bridal Veil Falls. At age 80, I wasn’t sure I would make it on the downward trail, but in spite of rain and because of my daughter’s helpful arm, I was so thankful to see this beautiful Falls. We stopped and looked at each and every one of the Falls on the Columbia River Gorge Road. I’m so glad we did this and will cherish our memories of this beautiful part of the world. It is indeed heartbreaking to know of the devastating fires in that area and in other parts of our country."

-- Carol Rushing

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Latricia Meyers

"So sad. One of our favorite views."

-- Latricia Meyers, Springfield, Oregon

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Ray Clark

"Its heart breaking, knowing that the gorge will never be the same in our lifetime. The memories made now turned to ash."

-- Ray Clark

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Wendy Normand

"I drive up to the gorge nearly once a week to get away from the city. I'm am heartbroken that I will never see it the same again."

-- Wendy Normand, Troutdale, Oregon

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Tina Merrill

Like so many Oregonians, I am feeling heartbroken over the fires in the Gorge. The natural wonders of our coastline, mountains and the Gorge are our backyard. We have many memories watching our children grow on the trails, showing visitors (with pride) what Oregon has to offer."

-- Tina Merrill

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Emily A. McCullough

"I got to see the Columbia Gorge for the first time on the 4th of July, 2016, just after I moved here last year. My cat Lou is always up for an adventure, so he came along for some breathtaking views of the Columbia and Multnomah Falls. I can't believe it's all burned..."

-- Emily A. McCullough, Vancouver, WA

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Tammy Prosser

"There are no words to express the grief I feel over the loss of our beloved Gorge. I am shattered."

-- Tammy Prosser

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George Hudetz

"It saddens be beyond belief to see this happen. Words cannot describe. I drove through the Gorge with my camera kit on Friday and did not stop. I thought to myself, 'It will be there next week, I can go back next week.' Nothing in life is certain, apparently."

-- George Hudetz

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Carol Hosford Gachen

As I watch the news about the fire raging in the Columbia Gorge, I am so sad. I live in Marin County about 10 minutes North of the Golden Gate Bridge in Northern California. I grew up in Hood River and got married at the beautiful Columbia Gorge Hotel in 2007. I was up in the Gorge this past June with my husband hiking part of the Pacific Crest Trail (picture above). We started our hike at the trailhead at the Bridge of the Gods. The scenery along the trail was so very beautiful and lush - simply stunning. I know that it will never be the same in our lifetime. My heart goes out to all the lives in Oregon and Washington directly impacted by this tragedy.

Although I live in California a piece of my heart remains in the Columbia Gorge - fire raged or not!



-- Carol Hosford Gachen

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"As a congenital heart disease warrior, and ambassador for the American Heart Association, I rebuilt my life and became healthy on hikes located in the gorge. I’m wanting to create in hope in the hopeless, because this is completely devastating. I want the community to come together and rebuild. It may take 65-160 years for the Gorge to be the same again, but we should all band together to make that happen for future generations."

-- Molly Hemphill

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Misty Tienken

"I was just in the Gorge a week ago for my second time there. I'm deeply devastated by this fire. My prayers are with everyone in the PNW and especially to the firefighters and those that are evacuated."

-- Misty Tienken

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Richard Cower

"I am sickened by what is happening in what I believe is the most beautiful 20 miles of landscape in the Pacific Northwest. This is Horsetail Falls, 2014, crisp fall day."

-- Rich Cower

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Vicki Fish

"I always took walks by the River because it was so serene. I live in Hood River and it's so saddening!"

-- Vicki Fish

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For those not from Oregon, a sense of the places that are currently engulfed by the Eagle Creek Fire, and those threatened by it. pic.twitter.com/ADf8ktSXah — Maggie Williams (@pdxmaggie) September 5, 2017

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Ruth Chermok

"Tears here in Silverton about our beloved Gorge. We were returning from Midwest and drove thru Monday afternoon about 2:30 pm and just wanted to cry."

-- Ruth Chermok

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Jennifer Boyle Photography

"Along with all Oregonians, I grieve today at the loss of our beautiful, irreplaceable Columbia Gorge. In the summer of 2012, I traveled to Oregon from the East Coast with my fiancé to look at wedding venues. A few months later, we were married at Skamania Lodge. I had never seen anything so breathtakingly beautiful and I knew that one day I would live here.

This is such a tragic loss on so many levels. But the Gorge will always be where I said my vows and found true love."

-- Zarya Rubin-Fogelson and Nicholas Fogelson

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Tony Ngo

"I wanted to share my memories of the gorge and all the good times I've had on my share of hikes. The gorge will never look the same again which is pretty heartbreaking. I wanted to share my photos so that Oregonians will remember The Gorge like this instead of what it looks like now."

-- Tony Ngo

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Brittany Beem

"It makes me so sad to see the beautiful Columbia River Gorge up in flames [?] . Some of my favorite memories have been up in those trees and hills hiking around with friends and enjoying how truly beautiful Oregon is! Praying for all of the firefighters and emergency personnel trying to keep it at bay."

-- Brittany Beem

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Becki Riensche

"I am heartbroken. Not only for the fires raging through our phenomenal Gorge. Not only for the people and animals in harms way. Not only for those who are losing their livelihood, homes and possessions. For all that plus my heart aches for the beauty, the splendor and the unbeatable views and hikes nestled within the Columbia River Gorge. I took this photo at Punch Bowl Falls a couple of years ago. I will never again, in my lifetime, see this in all its glory. That is what totally breaks my heart."

-- Becki Riensche

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Cayly Conger

"My husband & I now live in California… but we had our very first date in Oneota Gorge, got engaged in the gorge, & had our engagement photos taken there… it is truly one of the most special places in my heart. It breaks my heart to know our future kids will never know it the same the way that we do. We are devastated down here."

-- Cayly Conger, raised in Colton, Oregon

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Susan Marjanovic

"Can't sleep with everything burning, so here are some shots I took over the last few years of all the places that we love that are on fire. I know nature is resilient & will restore balance, but my heart aches anyway & this too is natural. Prayers to the people & animals & homes at risk. I hope everyone will be safe."

-- Susan Marjanovic

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One of my favorite places in Oregon, likely to never be the same in my lifetime. #columbiarivergorge #EagleCreekWildfire @sambakall pic.twitter.com/iI9QyT3Rox — Jane Pellicciotto (@allegrojane) September 5, 2017

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#OneontaGorge & #MultnomahFalls. You may never look the same in my lifetime, but I feel blessed to have known you. pic.twitter.com/6E1352RffU — HiddenStash ✨🎨 (@HiddenStashArt) September 5, 2017

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Didn't take any hikes this year with the baby. Was looking forward to next year. https://t.co/U9AnwrJyG2 — Andrew Theen 🚎🚘🚲🚃🚦 🏀 (@andrewtheen) September 5, 2017

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I'm heartsick about this. The Eagle Creek trail is a special place to me & so many. Gratitude to the fire crews. https://t.co/j7gJHEsKRb — Cheryl Strayed (@CherylStrayed) September 5, 2017

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Get live updates on the Eagle Creek fire

Get live updates on the Eagle Creek fire here.