Grasshopper Fire in Wasco County 85,114 acres, 20 percent contained

Initial damage assessments for the Grasshopper Fire have confirmed the loss of six primary residences and 15 outbuildings as the lightning-caused blaze reached 85,114 acres Thursday morning. The fire, which remains 20 percent contained, has entered a new phase of command with the arrival of international assistance and structural task forces focused on protecting high-risk communities.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal Blue Incident Management Team is overseeing structural operations alongside the Southern Area Blue Team and the Australia/New Zealand Incident Management Team 1. As of Thursday, 1,771 personnel are assigned to the incident. Firefighters are currently prioritizing the expansion of mop-up operations to a 100-foot buffer around homes to eliminate hot spots and prevent rekindling.

Active fire behavior continues to challenge the eastern and northeastern perimeters, driven by gusty winds. In the Rail Hollow area, crews successfully conducted strategic firing operations overnight to remove unburned fuels and reduce the potential for spread. Meanwhile, extensive hazard tree removal and mop-up efforts allowed for the reopening of Highway 35 on the fire's western edge, though motorists are advised to use caution and avoid stopping in the fire zone.

Operational focus for Thursday remains on the east side of the fire, where heavy equipment is being used to install dozer lines in the Elliott Road area. Structural resources are maintaining tactical patrols from Fifteen Mile Road to Shadybrook and providing ongoing protection for Camp Baldwin, Sportsman’s Paradise, and Friend Road.

Fire managers are bracing for a weather shift today as winds transition to the east and northeast. Rising temperatures and decreasing humidity, combined with atmospheric instability, may lead to afternoon column development and erratic winds. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible near the Cascade Crest on the fire's western flank.

A community meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight at the Dufur School, located at 802 NE 5th St. in Dufur. The meeting will be livestreamed on the Grasshopper Fire Facebook page, where information officers will monitor and answer questions.

Evacuation notices remain in effect for portions of Hood River, Wasco, and Clackamas counties. A Red Cross evacuation shelter is currently operating at The Dalles Middle School, 1100 East 12th St..

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