Grasshopper Fire Burns 13,000 Acres in 24 Hours, Threatening Dufur Homes

Q: Southern edges are secure, but what unpredictable overnight wind shifts threaten to outflank crews on the volatile western front?

The main threat is another wind-driven shift on the western flank near Highway 35 that could push the fire around crews’ lines overnight and send spot fires beyond them. Fire officials say the southern and eastern edges are comparatively secure, but the west side remains volatile because it is exposed to changing wind direction, steep terrain and very dry fuels. Recent east winds had already tested containment there, with earlier warnings that gusts near Bennett Pass and the higher ridges could push the fire higher into the wilderness and closer to areas such as Lookout Mountain, Gumjuwac Pass and Badger Lake. By Tuesday, officials were still trying to hold the fire at Highway 35 while reinforcing backup lines. The danger is not just stronger wind, but a sudden reversal or localized overnight drainage and ridge-top winds that can redirect fire spread. That can allow the blaze to outflank hand crews and dozers by moving laterally along slopes or by throwing embers across control lines. Officials have already said overnight wind-driven growth accelerated the fire to the northeast and forced evacuation changes, showing how quickly the fire can exploit those shifts. That is why crews are building both primary and contingency lines, keeping the fire south of Forest Road 4421 on the north side, and concentrating structure protection in Friend, Sportsman’s Paradise and Camp Baldwin while monitoring the Boulder Creek area on the southwest edge.

3 articles · Updated · Fox 12 Oregon · Aug 11

More than 13,000 acres burned in the past 24 hours, pushing the Grasshopper Fire to 77,311 acres after a fast Monday night run on its northeastern flank hit an area with multiple homes.
Hot, dry weather and shifting winds drove extreme fire behavior, with officials saying the blaze moved nearly 4 miles in an hour and threw embers up to a mile ahead of the fire line.
Crews made progress on the southern portion and worked overnight on structure protection, but officials said it is still too early to determine how many homes were damaged.
Level 3 evacuations remain a risk for nearby residents, and the Red Cross is operating an evacuation shelter at The Dalles Middle School as the fire stays unpredictable.