Grasshopper Fire officials say wind shifts have reduced fire intensity along the west perimeter, creating favorable conditions to further strengthen containment lines along the Highway 35 corridor. The containment figure for the fire has inched up to 23%, while acreage has increased to 43,244. Crews have made steady progress tying together northwestern and northeastern control lines, while on the western flank work continues to improve long term control of the fire’s northwest corner. Firefighters Thursday will reinforce suppression efforts near Pine Creek and across the northwest corner of the fire, as hot and dry conditions persist with westerly winds forecast for the next several days. With structural triage complete, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s remaining task force will demobilize and return to their local communities.
AQI Numbers Decreasing In Hood River Valley
Air Quality Index numbers are decreasing in the lower Hood River Valley after spiking back up during the early morning hours. As of 11 a.m. Thursday, monitors around Hood River were showing readings back down in the 200’s, still hazardous to health but down from being in the 400’s and 500’s a few hours ago. But in Odell the readings were still between 281 and 441, and the AQI at Parkdale Elementary School was at 1156. Readings in The Dalles area were in the 200’s, while in the Stevenson-Cascade Locks area AQI’s have dropped below 200 as west winds begin to blow. The Hood River County Health Department advises people to limit their smoke exposure by closing windows and doors, staying indoors, or relocating to a cleaner air space. Run an air conditioner, HEPA filter, or DIY air filter to clean your indoor air. If you must go outside, a properly fitted N95 mask can help, and avoid outdoor physical activity. Smoke is expected to decrease in the Gorge as winds shift to the west into tomorrow, with strong west winds expected over the weekend. Air quality index information is available at smokereadygorge.org.
Cruise The Gorge Set For This Weekend
The 33rd Annual Cruise The Gorge Weekend gets started on Friday evening in The Dalles. The Neon Cruise kicks it all off at 7 p.m. on Friday evening, and is open to anyone who wants to loop through downtown The Dalles in their favorite vehicle. Then it’s the Show In The Shade at Sorosis Park beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, with judging taking place until noon and the Parade of Champions at 2 p.m. Mid-Columbia Car Club President Kerry Lauritsen says there will be car enthusiasts from throughout the Northwest taking part. The weekend wraps up on Sunday with the Dufur Threshing Bee Car Show in Dufur Community Park starting at 9 a.m. Details are available at midcolumbiacarclub.org.
HRPD Traffic Stop Leads To Meth Seizure
The Hood River Police Department says a traffic stop earlier this week led to a DUII arrest and the seizure of suspected methamphetamine and a firearm. Police say an officer stopped a vehicle on Wednesday after seeing it traveling at a high rate of speed, cutting off another vehicle, and narrowly avoiding a crash. According to investigators, the driver also crossed into the opposing lane and ran a stop sign. During the stop, a nearby resident approached the officer and reported seeing the same vehicle speeding and nearly hitting their car as they backed out of a driveway. The Hood River Police Department says the officer observed signs of impairment during the investigation. After field sobriety tests, the driver was arrested. A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered a concealed firearm, a glass methamphetamine pipe, about 14 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and an open container of alcohol. The driver was booked into NORCOR on charges of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Possession of a Controlled Substance—Methamphetamine, Reckless Driving, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
Columbia River Gorge NSA Named NDI Community Partner of the Year
The Next Door has named the U.S. Forest Service Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area its 2026 Community Partner of the Year. The award recognizes the agency’s long-running partnership helping connect local youth with nature, job skills, and career opportunities through the Summer Youth Employment Program. Since 2009, local teens have spent each summer working alongside Forest Service crews on projects like trail restoration, invasive plant removal, and habitat conservation throughout the Columbia Gorge. Forest Service Public Affairs Officer Beth Kennedy says the program teaches teamwork, communication, and responsibility while introducing participants to careers in public lands management. The Next Door says many former participants have gone on to internships, seasonal jobs, and full-time careers with the Forest Service.
High Lava Fire Increases In Easterly Winds
Firefighters are preparing for another active day on the High Lava Fire burning in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, about 10 miles northwest of Stabler. The wildfire grew to an estimated 409 acres to the northwest on Wednesday as hot, dry weather and easterly winds fueled fire activity, including a spot fire that cross containment lines near Forest Road 54 but was quickly contained. Similar conditions Thursday raised concerns that the fire could continue to spread. The High Lava Fire was sparked by lightning on July 23 and has been burning through the rugged Canyon Creek drainage. Fire crews are facing steep terrain, dense timber with trees reaching 200 feet tall, and heavy forest fuels that continue to make suppression efforts difficult. Hand crews, engines, bulldozers, and other resources remain on the fire under a full suppression strategy. Planned burnout operations over the next several days could increase smoke in the area. Officials also remind the public that a closure order remains in effect for several roads surrounding the fire area.
August 6 Families In The Park Concert Cancelled Due To Smoke
Tonight’s scheduled kickoff of the annual Families In The Park concert series in Hood River’s Jackson Park has been cancelled due to the continued smoky conditions in the region. Mike Schend of the Hood River Lions Club says tonight’s scheduled headliners…Dancehall Days…will now wrap up the series with a rescheduled performance on Thursday, September 3 at 7 p.m. The 2026 Families In The Park concerts will now start next Thursday night at 7 p.m. with Petty Fever. The Nate Botsford Band will perform on August 20, and Hit Machine on August 27. The concerts are free to attend.
Only One Lead Change After Wednesday Vote Count In Washington
Both Klickitat and Skamania counties have updated their vote counts in Washington’s top-two primary, and only one race saw a change in the leader.
In Washington’s Third Congressional District, Republican State Senator John Braun has moved ahead of Democratic incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Braun now has 68,432 votes to Perez’s 65,224. Democrat Brent Hennrich remains in third with 28,062 votes, while the remaining ballots are split among six other candidates.
In the race for Washington’s Fourth Congressional District seat being vacated by Dan Newhouse, Republican Amanda McKinney continues to lead with 31,557 votes. Democrat John Duresky has 27,963, followed by Republican Jerrod Sessler with 12,854. The remaining votes are divided among eight other candidates.
In the Klickitat County Commission Position Two race, incumbent Lori Zoller leads with 694 votes. Andy Kallinen has 434, and Gene Klejeski has 387.
For Klickitat County Sheriff, Dwayne Matulovich remains well in front with 2,840 votes. Tony Warren has 1,318, and John Bruce has 791.
In the race for Klickitat PUD Commission Position Three, Logan Siebert leads with 786 votes, followed by Dan Gunkel with 599 and Dan Christopher with 259.
Voters in the Lyle Fire District are overwhelmingly supporting a property tax levy for fire protection and emergency medical services. The measure, which would set the levy at $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed property value, is passing with 159 yes votes to 37 no votes.
In Washington’s 17th Legislative District, Position One, Democrat Ben Christly leads Republican incumbent Kevin Waters by a vote of 19,426 to 16,323. Thomas Haynes of the Pro Gun Liberal Party has 1,240 votes.
In the 17th District Position Two race, Democrat Diana Perez leads Republican incumbent David Stuebe, 20,243 votes to 16,637.
In the 14th Legislative District Position One race, Republican incumbent Gloria Mendoza leads Democrat Chelsea Dimas, 3,723 to 3,217. William Chichenoff has 410 votes.
And in the 14th District Position Two contest, Republican incumbent Deb Manjarrez leads with 4,159 votes. Democrat Ezequiel Morfin has 2,305, and fellow Democrat Tony Sandoval has 1,659.
Additional vote counts from Klickitat and Skamania counties are expected Thursday.
Grasshopper Fire Slows Near Highway 35
Grasshopper Fire officials say while the fire did move west last night, it has not crossed Highway 35. California Complex Incident Management Team 6 Operations Section Chief Anthony Rapoza says the fire intensity should lessen as it nears the highway. Fire Behavior Analyst John Fisher says the fire pushed out of Badger Creek across Bennett Ridge, and it is slowly backing down toward Highway 35. He added everything on the ridge above Lookout Mountain is holding. Although the fire remains several miles away, structural task forces completed triage around Mt. Hood Meadows Resort. Fire lines to the south and east continue to hold. The fire has burned 39,439 acres, and containment is at 20%. The Mount Hood National Forest issued a new closure order for the area. Hood River County has not made any changes to evacuation levels as of this morning, including Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation remains in effect for areas south of Forest Road 44, including Mount Hood Meadows.
Unhealthy Air Quality In The Gorge
Smoke settled into the Columbia Gorge Wednesday, creating unhealthful air quality in much of the region. As of Wednesday afternoon, monitors around the Hood River Valley were continuing to register an air quality index between 300 and 500, even though they were showing a slight drop from mid-morning. Those numbers qualify as hazardous to health. East of Hood River was experiencing afternoon AQI’s just below 200, while in the Stevenson-Carson area they had increased from earlier in the day to the upper 200’s, which also increases health risks for everyone with 24 hours of exposure. The Hood River County Health Department advises people to limit their smoke exposure by closing windows and doors, staying indoors, or relocating to a cleaner air space. Run an air conditioner, HEPA filter, or DIY air filter to clean your indoor air. If you must go outside, a properly fitted N95 mask can help, and avoid outdoor physical activity. Smoke is expected to decrease in the Gorge as winds shift to the west into tomorrow, with strong west winds expected over the weekend. Air quality index information is available at smokereadygorge.org.