Photo: Rob Davis/Staff

A dusting of ash fell in the Portland metro area Monday afternoon, blown west by the same winds that helped the Eagle Creek Fire grow in the Columbia River Gorge.

The fire, which grew Monday to 3,200 acres and forced new evacuations in Multnomah County, started Saturday. It's believed to have been caused by illegal fireworks, but police said they had made no arrests as of Monday afternoon.

-- Elliot Njus

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Ash fall may continue at times through tomorrow. — NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) September 5, 2017

The National Weather Service said the light ash falling could continue through Tuesday.

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Is the ash dangerous to breathe in? Should we stay inside in Portland? — lena (@lenarachel) September 5, 2017

The ash won't dramatically affect the region's overall air quality, the weather service said on Twitter. But smoke from the fire has already resulted in poor air quality throughout the region.

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Falling ash can be seen falling around #ClarkWA from the #EagleCreekFire. Do not call 911 to inquire about it. 911 is for emergencies only. — CRESA (@CRESA) September 5, 2017

The ash also reached Southwest Washington. The Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency, which operates the county's 911 dispatch center, asked residents to stop calling 911 to ask about the ash.

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Meanwhile, Portlanders began posting photos of the ash as it dusted their cars and other surfaces.

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A light dusting of ash on the car in Portland, Oregon from 37 #wildfires in Pacific NW pic.twitter.com/OSlztHsL2X — Jenny Woodman (@JennyWoodman) September 5, 2017

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Fool with fireworks sets the #EagleCreekFire and now forty miles away in Portland spider webs are covered in ash. pic.twitter.com/JV9QX7RYiO — Spencer Boomhower (@SBoomhower) September 5, 2017

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Hey, Portland weather gods, when I said I was ready for the rain to start, I didn't mean ash. #pdxtst pic.twitter.com/lvAUaDinB3 — David Beffert (@dbeffert) September 5, 2017

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Lt. Gaidos says evac level jumped from 1 to 3. You can see ash falling on us as we chat. #EagleCreekFire pic.twitter.com/7oV4poGs5s — Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) September 5, 2017

Oregon Public Broadcasting content manager Ryan Haas captured the ash falling during an interview with Multnomah County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Chad Gaidos.

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Haven't seen ash fall in Portland since Mount St. Helens blew. — Hank Stern (@HenryStern) September 5, 2017

Some compared the falling ash to that seen after the 1980 eruptions of Mount St. Helens. Portland received little ash in the initial May 18 eruption, but subsequent events coated the metro area in a layer of gritty debris.

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Dale Swanson/The Oregonian/File

October 18, 1980: A woman hoses ash off her car in Northeast Portland.

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Bill Murphy/The Oregonian/File

June 13, 1980: A city of Portland Public Works Department truck attempts to wash down volcanic ash on Southwest Park Avenue near the Portland Art Museum.

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Joel Davis/The Oregonian/File

May 26, 1980: A bicyclist wears a breathing apparatus while pedaling through ash fall.

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Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian/File

People shield their faces from ash in downtown Portland after the second of the three big eruptions.