A little while later I checked my phone to see that I had a voice message from Romaine asking me if I knew what was going on in Portland.
I didn't, so I immediately called her to find out. She told me that at that moment outside her window the skies were dark and ash was falling from the skies like black snow flakes. Inside her house the air was hazy from the ash that had seeped in and was settling onto everything.
Outside the temperature was 90 degrees, though the sunshine couldn't break through the layer of ash overlaying the sky.

The fire has been creeping west towards Portland and has caused the closure of Interstate 84 between the Columbia River Gorge and the city. It is believed that, though beneficial wind conditions and a good rain could come along to help contain the fire's reach, The Eagle Creek Wildfire will continue to burn at least until the end of the month with little firefighters can do to contain it in its immensity.
http://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/index.ssf/2017/09/eagle_creek_fire_rages_in_colu.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/09/06/eagle-creek-oregon-fire/636282001/
http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/06/us/oregon-fire-teenager/index.html