Rain Gives Grasshopper Fire Crews an Assist, but Brings New Hazards
By Joshuah Albert
The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 2, 2026 — Rain, sharply cooler temperatures and gusty winds swept across the Grasshopper Fire Wednesday, giving firefighters an assist against stubborn pockets of heat but creating new hazards from weakened trees and potentially muddy backcountry roads.
The 93,972-acre fire remains 83% contained, unchanged from Tuesday, while the number of personnel assigned has dropped to 389.
That is down from 511 Tuesday, 622 Monday and 809 Friday as the fire operation continues to scale back and crews increasingly turn toward mop-up, patrol and suppression repair.
The cold front began moving around Mount Hood Tuesday night, bringing a dramatic change from the hot, dry conditions that have challenged firefighters for much of the summer.
National Weather Service Portland forecasters said a strong frontal system is bringing widespread rain, breezy southerly winds and a chance of thunderstorms Wednesday, with similar conditions expected Thursday.
At about 4,000 feet southeast of Mount Hood, NWS forecasts a 100% chance of rain Wednesday, with one-half to three-quarters of an inch possible during the day and another tenth to quarter-inch Wednesday night. Thunderstorms are also possible.
Rain helps — but creates new hazards
Fire managers said Wednesday's weather should substantially limit fire behavior, but the rain and wind bring their own concerns for firefighters.
Crews will assess road conditions throughout the day. If roughly three-quarters of an inch of rain materializes over portions of the fire, roads used by firefighters and heavy equipment could become unsafe for travel.
Hazard trees are another concern. Trees damaged or killed by the fire can have weakened root systems, and saturated soil combined with gusty winds could make them more likely to fall.
NWS Portland also cautioned Wednesday that prolonged moderate rainfall could increase the risk of debris flows in recently burned areas with high burn severity.
Conditions will be particularly raw at higher elevations. Fire officials are forecasting ridgetop gusts as high as 40 mph and rainfall totals approaching an inch in some locations.
‘Points us in the right direction’
The change in weather follows several days in which firefighters worked to keep active fire within containment lines and other control features in the northwest and southwest corners.
Grasshopper Fire Deputy Incident Commander Clay Stephens said the strategies employed during the past several weeks have succeeded in limiting the fire's growth despite difficult terrain.
The fire has grown just 11 acres since Monday, when it was reported at 93,961 acres.
Stephens said the rain should help cool stubborn pockets of heat but cautioned that several days of precipitation will not extinguish a fire this large.
“But it certainly points us in the right direction,” Stephens said.
The National Weather Service expects cooler, unsettled weather to continue beyond Wednesday. Its Portland fire-weather forecast calls for similar conditions Thursday followed by cooler, showery weather through the weekend.
Smoke expected to clear
Rain and breezy conditions are also expected to improve air quality in communities affected by the Grasshopper Fire.
Evacuation notices remain in portions of Hood River and Wasco counties. A forest closure also remains in effect on the Mt. Hood National Forest, along with fire restrictions on the forest and elsewhere in the region.
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