How to help those affected by the Rowena Fire

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As crews make progress in the ongoing Rowena Fire in Wasco County, officials are sharing ways people can help in the recovery effort.

The fire that started on Wednesday has destroyed 49 homes so far.

After reaching over 3,800 acres, firefighters made some “steady progress” as they gave an update Saturday, saying it is now 10% contained. In addition, some Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations were downgraded to Level 2 “Be Set.”

Many people whose homes have been destroyed have taken to fundraising to help them get back on their feet. However, the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has warned that there are some scams being conducted through GoFundMe campaigns.

Luckily, GoFundMe has taken the initiative to weed out the scammers by creating a centralized hub for fundraisers, fully verified by the site:

Verified fundraisers for the Columbia River Gorge fires relief

“During humanitarian disasters and other crises, our team proactively monitors and verifies fundraisers so the communities impacted can receive the quick and trusted support they need,” said a GoFundMe spokesperson. “We have a team of experts working around the clock to review fundraisers and prevent misuse. This process includes both a human review from our world-class Trust & Safety experts as well as technical tools designed to catch misuse.”

Anyone who wishes to report a suspicious fundraiser can contact GoFundMe, the site spokesperson said. The campaign will then get flagged and investigated by experts for its legitimacy.

In the meantime, the Dalles Middle School is continuing to serve as a temporary shelter site run by volunteers. According to the Red Cross Cascades Region, the best way to support those efforts is by giving a financial contribution through their donation page.