Hot, Dry, Gusty Weather Challenges Grasshopper Fire as Containment Holds at 76%
By Joshuah Albert
The Dalles, Ore., Aug. 25, 2026 — Hotter temperatures, declining humidity and gusty winds are challenging firefighters on the Grasshopper Fire Tuesday, with conditions expected to worsen Wednesday as the 93,794-acre fire remains at 76% containment.
The National Weather Service in Pendleton said Tuesday that very warm and dry conditions will continue through Wednesday, with breezy winds and low relative humidity returning Wednesday and producing elevated to critical fire weather conditions, particularly in portions of the Columbia Basin and Columbia River Gorge.
NWS issued a Special Weather Statement Tuesday morning for an area that includes The Dalles and the eastern Columbia River Gorge, warning that winds and relative humidity could reach localized critical fire-weather conditions between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday. The agency said the conditions could affect existing wildfires as well as any new fires that start.
The Grasshopper Fire grew by 50 acres since Monday, from 93,744 to 93,794 acres, while containment remained unchanged at 76%. Personnel assigned to the fire dropped from 1,116 Monday to 1,013 Tuesday.
Wasco County Evacuations
Level 3 — Go Now:
FC — Fifteen Mile Creek
JB — Jordan Butte
NF 27 — National Forest Road 27
FR 27 — Forest Road 27
BC — Badger Campground
GH — Grasshopper
RB — Ross Point
Level 2 — Be Set:
RC — Rock Creek
WRB — White River Basin
BCC — Barlow Creek Campground
Level 1 — Be Ready:
CB — Camp Baldwin
FLB — Frog Lake Buttes
KM — Keeper Mills Road
Evacuation notices have been lifted for zones WRR, SPA, SH, SVR, HH, RH, SCH, JH, BD1, BD, TV, PHW and SP.
Evacuation notices remain in effect in portions of Wasco and Hood River counties. Residents should check current evacuation maps for the latest information.
A forest closure also remains in place on the Mt. Hood National Forest, along with fire restrictions. Burning and other fire restrictions remain in effect across portions of the region.
Two areas remain active
Similar hot and dry conditions Monday increased fire activity in the two most active portions of the Grasshopper Fire — the Boulder Creek area in the southwest corner and the northwest corner east of Highway 35.
Aircraft assisted firefighters on the ground in those areas and helped minimize additional fire growth, according to Tuesday's fire update.
Fire managers are particularly concerned about critically dry fuels, including pine needles, grass, shrubs and both live and dead trees. Tree torching is possible Tuesday, and officials said more smoke could become visible compared with recent days.
The NWS fire weather forecast calls for temperatures of 88 to 93 degrees Tuesday in the eastern Columbia River Gorge, with minimum relative humidity between 22% and 32%. Conditions are expected to become windier Wednesday, with gusts reaching about 25 mph in portions of the Gorge.
Logging, rehabilitation work continues
Crews are continuing tethered logging operations to remove heavy fuels from steep terrain. Other logging operators are removing wood and slash piles near Highway 35.
Meanwhile, portions of the eastern and southern fire perimeter have remained secure enough that crews are beginning to plan rehabilitation work.
Dozer and hand lines used to contain the fire will eventually need to be rehabilitated to reduce erosion and other damage to natural resources.
Smoke expected to worsen
Smoke is also expected to become a greater problem Tuesday.
Communities east of the Grasshopper Fire could see deteriorating air quality, with conditions reaching Unhealthy levels in some locations, according to fire officials.
Evacuation notices ranging from Level 1 "Be Ready" to Level 3 "Go" remain in effect in portions of Wasco and Hood River counties.
A forest closure remains in place on the Mt. Hood National Forest, along with fire restrictions on the forest and elsewhere in the region.
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