As Oregon’s grueling wildfire season drags into the last weeks of August, nearly 1,600 wildfires have burned 2.4 million acres, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. Containment has risen for many of the fires going into the final stretch of summer — leading to lower evacuation levels.
Wy'East Crew 8 working with Skidgen E-508 on Division Lima on the Hagen Fire on August 20, 2026.
Courtesy of D. Shroyer / Inciweb
Looking ahead, a dip in temperatures this weekend will help the thousands of firefighters and community members battling with the state’s largest flames. But the cooldown coincides with the risk of lightning in the Cascades.
Firefighting near Mount Hood
Evacuations have been lowered for the Grasshopper Fire impacting Wasco, Hood River and Clackamas counties. In Clackamas County, Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuations were lifted for the Mount Hood corridor from Rhododendron east through Government Camp and surrounding areas of the Mount Hood National Forest.
Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations remain in Wasco and Hood River counties in the Badger Creek Wilderness and east to the White River Wildlife Area. Officials say evacuations will remain in place near fire lines to ensure firefighting efforts remain uninterrupted. The Grasshopper Fire has burned more than 90,000 acres and was 66% contained as of Thursday morning.
Southwest of Mount Hood, difficult terrain continues to limit firefighting efforts for the Austin Fire in Clackamas County. Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations remain in place along Clackamas River Road 25 miles southeast of Estacada.
Crews continue to build containment lines around the fire’s perimeter, connecting open meadows with old logging roads to contain the flames. The Austin Fire has burned 3,000 acres and was 0% contained Thursday.
Suppression efforts across the state
East of Pendleton, in Umatilla and Union counties in northeast Oregon, Highway 204 through the small community of Tollgate has reopened between Elgin and Westron following a lengthy closure due to the Hagen Fire.
Near the city of Milton-Freewater, Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation levels were extended along Mill Creek Road for the Paradise Fire burning along the Oregon and Washington border. The Hagan Fire had burned 57,000 acres and was 19% contained as of Thursday morning. The Paradise Fire had burned 5,000 acres and was 0% contained.
Containment of the Fielder Mountain Fire near Grants Pass in southwest Oregon increased to 72%. The fire remained at 573 acres burned with no new growth as of Wednesday night. All evacuation levels have been dropped for the fire, and shelters set up for impacted residents have been closed.
The Big Grass Fire that has burned over half a million acres along the Oregon and Idaho border reached 85% containment. Strong winds, including dust devils, have carried embers past established fire lines into unburned areas. Finding and extinguishing pockets of heat in the fire zone remains a top priority for crews. Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations remain in place south of Jordan Valley in Oregon. The evacuation zone shrank for some parts of southwest Idaho.
Lower temperatures & possible lightning this weekend
Hot, dry weather conditions continue Thursday for much of Oregon, with fast-moving thunderstorms possible Friday through the Cascade mountain range. A cold front will bring gusty winds that could drop temperatures nearly 10 degrees late Friday into Saturday.
With containment increasing on many of the state’s largest fires, officials urge locals and visitors to continue to check fire restrictions and be aware of any red flag warnings in their areas.
Resources: Stay safe and informed during wildfire season with OPB’s wildfire guide at opb.org/wildfires. This resource offers essential safety tips and preparedness guidance to help you navigate fire and smoke events. This resource was created as part of our commitment to serving the public as wildfire seasons become longer and more dangerous.
