Grasshopper Fire grows to more than 18,000 acres as crews hold lines protecting Pine Hollow
From Mount Hood National Forest and Wasco County Sheriff's Office with edits by Joshuah Albert:
The Dalles, Ore., July 29, 2026 — The Grasshopper Fire grew by more than 4,500 acres Tuesday to an estimated 18,136 acres as firefighters successfully held critical containment lines protecting Pine Hollow and Sportsman's Park while continuing efforts to slow the fire's advance, according to the Grasshopper Fire Information Facebook page.
Firefighters faced another day of active fire behavior as winds tested containment lines throughout the incident. Crews successfully held the existing fire line protecting Pine Hollow and Sportsman's Park while focusing new line construction on the fire's eastern finger, the section closest to Pine Hollow.
Air resources played a key role Tuesday, with airtankers reinforcing fire lines along Highland Ditch with retardant before fire activity increased. Three hotshot crews worked until midnight north of Pine Hollow Airport to connect fire lines with work along Forest Road 27, while aircraft continued supporting suppression efforts throughout the day. Overnight, five engines patrolled Forest Road 4810 and supported operations on the eastern flank of the fire.
Three Oregon State Fire Marshal task forces remain assigned to provide around-the-clock structure protection for Sportsman's Park and Pine Hollow. Each task force consists of five engines.
On Wednesday, firefighters will continue constructing fire line along Forest Road 27 in an effort to cut off the fire's eastern flank. Crews also will begin mopping up completed line along the southern edge of the fire while scouting additional containment opportunities near Forest Road 2730.
The California Interagency Incident Management Team 6 assumed command of the fire at 6 a.m. Wednesday after arriving Tuesday to take over management of the growing incident.
As of Wednesday morning, the fire response included 231 personnel, 37 engines and 21 pieces of heavy equipment.
The National Weather Service forecast calls for highs between 80 and 85 degrees near Pine Hollow, with relative humidity dropping as low as 20% to 25%. Winds are expected to remain light during the morning before increasing during the afternoon, with gusts up to 25 mph across exposed terrain.
According to the Wasco County Sheriff's Office, evacuation levels remain in effect across portions of southern Wasco County.
Level 3 "Go Now" evacuations remain in effect for Sportsman's Park, Pine Hollow and Wamic, Forest Road 27, Forest Service Road 2700 and the Jordan Butte area.
Level 2 "Be Set" evacuations remain in place for Fifteenmile Creek, Shell Rock, Tygh Valley, White River and the Badger Creek and Shadybrook Road areas.
Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuations remain in effect for Sportsman's Paradise, Camp Baldwin, Rail Hollow and J Hix Road.
A shelter for evacuees remains open at Maupin High School, while the Sherman County Fairgrounds in Moro continues serving as a large-animal shelter. A closure order also remains in effect for portions of the Mount Hood National Forest surrounding the fire.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency previously approved Oregon's request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Grasshopper Fire after determining the wildfire had the potential to become a major disaster. The fire has threatened nearly 700 homes, along with commercial and residential buildings, electrical utilities, campgrounds, trails, Bureau of Land Management roads, and radio and cellular communication facilities serving the communities of Tygh Valley, Wamic, Pine Hollow and Sportsman's Park. The grant makes Oregon eligible for reimbursement of up to 75% of qualifying firefighting costs.
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