There was no growth reported on the Grasshopper Fire, and no change in containment. Acreage remains at 43,244, with containment still at 23%. California Complex Incident Management Team 6 Operations Section Chief Anthony Rapoza says the fire remained east of Highway 35, and a shift of winds to the west will help push the fire into itself. There is a Red Flag Warning in effect for the fire area into late Saturday night with hot conditions and strong west winds. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 2 “Get Set” evacuation advisory for Sportsman’s Paradise, South Valley Road and north of Rail Hollow Road. After Saturday, temperatures are forecast to go down and humidity to go up. Crews Friday will focus on direct suppression efforts along the northern and western perimeters while reinforcing containment along the west side of the incident.
Category: Uncategorized
Crews Make Progress On High Lava Fire
Firefighters on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest are making steady progress on the High Lava Fire burning in the Canyon Creek area, strengthening containment lines along the north and west sides of the fire. Officials say the small spot fires that developed along Forest Road 54 earlier this week have now been secured. Although the fire grew significantly Thursday, it remains within planned containment boundaries. Firefighters say west winds could increase fire activity. Crews are continuing strategic burnout operations along Forest Road 54, working from west to east to remove fuels ahead of the fire’s path. As the fire slowly advances toward Forest Road 34 and the West Crater Trailhead, firefighters are extinguishing spot fires and reinforcing containment lines with additional defensive firing operations. More firefighting resources are on the way, including interagency hotshot crews, Type 6 fire engines, and specialized drones to support suppression and containment efforts.
Air Quality Index Numbers Fall
Air Quality Index numbers are decreasing in the Hood River Valley after spiking back up during the early morning hours. As of 2:30 p.m., monitors around Hood River and Odell were showing readings in the low 100’s. The AQI at Parkdale Elementary School was above 1200 early this morning, but was down to 101 by this afternoon. Readings in The Dalles area in the afternoon had dropped below 100, while in the Stevenson-Cascade Locks area AQI’s are down around 100. The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce announced that First Friday activities scheduled for this evening have been cancelled due to air quality concerns, and The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce postponed a planned ribbon cutting at a community mural on 901 East 2nd to Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. Air quality index information is available at smokereadygorge.org.
Wind Shifts Reduce Intensity At West End Of Grasshopper Fire
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.