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The Grasshopper Fire burns nearly 40,000 acres in Oregon as smoke blankets the Portland area.

The Grasshopper Fire, burning east of Mount Hood, has scorched nearly 40,000 acres and remains only 20% contained. The blaze, sparked by lightning on July 23, has forced a Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation for the Mt. Hood Meadows ski resort and placed the historic Timberline Lodge under a Level 1 "Be Ready" notice. While the lodge remains open, officials warn that it will close if evacuation levels rise to Level 2. Firefighters are currently battling the blaze to protect nearby landmarks, though the historic Flag Point Fire Lookout was destroyed by the flames on Friday. The fire has significantly impacted air quality, with Portland briefly ranking as the worst city in the world for air quality. Heather Ibsen, a spokesperson for the Mount Hood National Forest, noted that while the lookouts are valuable, the Forest Service continues to use a mix of cameras and satellite data for fire detection. Winds are expected to shift west, potentially reducing the fire's spread toward Highway 35.

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