Grasshopper Fire Reaches 93% Containment as Crews Return to Boulder Creek

Sep 8

Written By Columbia Community Connection

By Joshuah Albert

The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 8, 2026 — The Grasshopper Fire reached 93% containment Tuesday as warmer, drier weather allowed firefighters to return to steep terrain in the Boulder Creek drainage, where crews are working to close one of the remaining gaps in the nearly 94,000-acre fire.

The lightning-caused fire remains at 93,990 acres, essentially unchanged since Monday. A total of 255 personnel are assigned to the fire.

Crews resumed work Monday on roads and dozer lines after heavy weekend rain made some areas too muddy and unstable for firefighters and equipment.

Most planned work areas were accessible Monday, allowing firefighters to improve containment lines while continuing repairs on control lines no longer needed for suppression.

Boulder Creek remains a concern

The Boulder Creek drainage continues to receive particular attention.

Crews resumed constructing line on steep slopes where burned areas intermingle with patches of unburned vegetation. Fire managers remain concerned that flare-ups in those fuels could allow the fire to spread beyond its current footprint.

Professional timber fallers worked ahead of firefighters to remove burned and weakened trees that could fall and injure crews.

Fire officials said heat remains buried in root systems and large-diameter fuels across portions of the fire. As vegetation and woody material dry following the recent soaking rain, interior pockets of unburned fuel could ignite, producing visible flames and smoke.

However, the recent rainfall has substantially reduced the potential for significant fire spread in the near term.

Suppression gives way to repair

Across much of the fire, work increasingly resembles rehabilitation rather than active firefighting.

Crews completed chipping operations along Forest Road 44 Monday and moved that work to Forest Road 4421.

The last protective fire wrap was also removed from recreation sites and buildings along Forest Road 44 and hauled back to fire camp. Hoses and other equipment are being removed from areas no longer threatened by the fire.

Heavy equipment operators are clearing dirt and debris from culverts to restore drainage. Along Forest Road 44, crews are removing large woody debris and repairing dozer lines built outside the fire perimeter that were ultimately not needed for containment.

That rehabilitation includes constructing water bars to divert runoff and spreading slash and other material across exposed soil to reduce erosion.

Warmer weather, then wind

Temperatures around the fire are expected to rise into the mid-70s Tuesday, with warmer and drier weather continuing into Thursday, according to fire officials.

The National Weather Service forecast also shows a significant warm-up Wednesday. Hood River is forecast to reach about 84 degrees under sunny skies, compared with 78 Tuesday.

Thursday brings a change. Temperatures in Hood River are forecast to fall to around 78 degrees, with west winds of 8 to 17 mph and gusts potentially reaching 34 mph.

Fire personnel will continue watching for increased activity as fuels dry, particularly from residual heat in heavy fuels and root systems.

Air quality is expected to remain good Tuesday for most communities surrounding the Grasshopper Fire.

Evacuation notices and a reduced forest closure remain in portions of the fire area, and fire restrictions remain in effect on the Mt. Hood National Forest and elsewhere in the region.