The Grasshopper Fire saw more aggressive fire behavior Wednesday as winds gusted up to 25 miles per hour. Firefighters responded with water, hand crews, logging operations and heavy equipment to keep the fire from advancing. Great Basin Incident Management Team 4 Operations Section Chief Kevin Norton says the northwest and southwest corners remain the focus of their work. The Grasshopper Fire has burned 93,841 acres and is now 76 percent contained. The fire camp in Tygh Valley is moving to Mt. Hood Meadows, putting firefighters closer to the most active areas. That move means increased traffic today and possibly through the weekend, including large trucks, trailers and heavy equipment. Most vehicles will use the southern route along Highways 216 and 26. Drivers in those areas are urged to use extra caution.
Author: mbailey
High Lava Fire Size Increases With Successful Firing Operations
The High Lava Fire, eleven miles northwest of Stabler on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, has grown to 2,771 acres, up from 1,981 acres following successful firing operations. Containment has increased to 25 percent. Fire behavior remains light across much of the fire, with only small areas of moderate activity. Crews Wednesday completed a three-day indirect firing operation, including drone-assisted aerial ignitions in unburned interior pockets. The work moved the fire’s edge into safer locations and reduced risks to firefighters. In areas with little fire activity, crews have begun mop-up, extinguishing remaining heat where conditions allow. Chainsaw crews are also removing hazardous trees and improving access to hot spots. Construction of contingency lines continues as an additional defense against changing weather. Cooler temperatures, higher humidity and west winds generally below ten miles per hour are expected today and tomorrow. Overnight humidity could reach 90 percent or higher.
Mt. Hood Forest Closures Expand Around Austin Fire
The Mount Hood National Forest has expanded an emergency closure around the Austin Fire in the Clackamas River Ranger District. Fire officials say the closure is needed for public safety and to give firefighters and heavy equipment room to operate safely and efficiently. The Austin Fire has burned 8,781 acres. The expanded closure prohibits public entry into the designated area, including travel on Forest Service roads and trails, use of campgrounds, and off-road travel. Closed roads include portions of Forest Roads 46, 57, 63 and 70, as well as Oregon Highway 224 east of Fish Creek. Popular recreation areas that are closed include Lake Harriet, Timothy Lake, Bagby Hot Springs and campgrounds along the Clackamas River east of Carter Bridge. Closure signs are posted at roads, trailheads and other access points. Officials urge the public to obey the closure and check the Mount Hood National Forest website for the complete closure order and map.
Avery Park Fire Evacuation Advisories Lifted
Klickitat County Emergency Management this morning lifted all evacuation levels issued as a result of Wednesday evening fire near Avery Park. The area in the vicinity of Avery Park at one point was at Level 3 “Go Now” after the fire broke out in windy conditions near Wishram. Wishram Heights and Wishram both were at Level 2 Wednesday evening while crews looked to control the fire. The fire broke out after 5 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Crews from throughout the area responded to the fire, which early estimates put at 300 acres in size heading into the night. Wishram School was closed today due to the fire.
Klickitat County Hearing On RV Parks Continued
A hearing on proposed amendments to Klickitat County’s ordinance governing standards for RV parks was continued to September 15 to allow Planning Director Scott Edelman to continue to get legal consultation on provisions for allowing waivers to the County’s 60 day occupancy limitation to help alleviate workforce housing issues. Edelman noted there has been estimates of 500 to 2500 long-term construction jobs coming to Klickitat County in the next ten years as the proposed pump storage project, data centers, and wind and solar farms are constructed, and it’s already a challenge for those who get jobs in the County to find housing. Commissioners would like more specifics on how the limitation would actually be applied, and criteria to consider.
Man Found Dead In Vehicle On Gifford Pinchot Forest
The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an adult male whose body was found inside a vehicle in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Deputies responded Sunday to U.S. Forest Service Road 25-0210, after a vehicle was discovered concealed from view along a decommissioned forest road. During the investigation, a patrol sergeant found the man deceased inside the vehicle. With help from the Skamania County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, the body was recovered from the remote location. The Skamania County Coroner’s Office conducted the death investigation in coordination with the Sheriff’s Office. Investigators say preliminary evidence indicates the death was self-inflicted. They have found no evidence that anyone else was involved.
Grasshopper Fire Evac Levels Drop With Fire Activity
Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill has lowered evacuation levels in some areas that have been impacted by the Grasshopper Fire for several weeks. Officials say the change reflects increased confidence in containment along the fire’s eastern perimeter, following extensive suppression work. Fire behavior analyst Chris Belliston described most of Tuesday’s fire activity as “docile.” He says smoke from the Austin Fire helped shade the area and reduce fire activity. A large helicopter also dropped water on the Grasshopper Fire for about six hours, as firefighters took advantage of overcast conditions to slow the fire’s spread. Meanwhile, heavy equipment operators continued removing wood debris along Highway 35. The Oregon Department of Transportation provided traffic control during that work. The Grasshopper Fire has burned 93,806 acres and is 76% contained.
Look Out For Scams During Wildfire Season
As wildfire season continues, experts are reminding people to beware of disaster-related scams. In one survey from 2024, the Census Bureau found over three quarters of disaster survivors experienced a possible scam within a month of the event. Paul Griffo with A-A-R-P Oregon’s fraud prevention campaign says the most important thing to avoid any scams is to do some research before giving away money or personal information. Griffo adds imposter scams are the most commonly reported, data backed by the Federal Trade Commission. These could be fake contractors peddling home repairs or false representatives from known insurance companies. Griffo advises people independently verifying legitimacy through the Better Business Bureau or by contacting the company directly.
New Restrictions On Hood River County Forestlands
New wildfire prevention restrictions are now in effect in the Hood River County Forest, as fire danger remains high. The restrictions took effect at 12:01 Tuesday morning and include overnight closures. Camping and parking in the county forest are prohibited between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., except at Kingsley Campground, Tucker Park and Toll Bridge Park. All gates providing access to the county forest are also closed, including Post Canyon, Riordan Hill, Upper Binns Hill and Gilhouley. Motorized vehicles with combustion engines are prohibited on trails and gated county forest roads. All campfires are prohibited. Portable stoves and fire pits using liquefied or bottled fuel are still allowed in clear areas free of flammable vegetation. Users must have either a shovel and one gallon of water, or a two-and-a-half-pound fire extinguisher. A map showing gate closures is available at webmap dot hoodrivercounty dot gov slash trail. The county will announce when the restrictions are lifted. For questions, contact the Hood River County Forestry Department at 541-387-6888.
Garfield County Advises Klickitat County On Child Care
Klickitat County Commissioners continued their examination of how to fill child care needs in the County by talking with representatives from Garfield County about how they have gone about developing a facility set to open next year. Garfield County Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman told the Commission that hiring a child care navigator was a key first step in their efforts, sending a signal to the community and potential funding sources they were serious about establishing a new facility. That navigator, Alesia Richert, added there are numerous sources of funds available to help for a child care facility, but putting the plan together is necessary to tap those resources. She added it’s important to plan for keeping good employees, and to listen to the community to find out what it needs. Commission Chair Ron Ihrig pointed out the discussion came at a key time, as Klickitat County prepares to develop its 2027 budget.