The Emergency Conflagration Act was invoked Wednesday afternoon for the fast-moving Grasshopper Fire in Wasco County. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing an incident management team and assigning task forces to protect nearby communities and critical infrastructure.
As of Tuesday night, the fire was mapped at 18,136 acres.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal has brought in resources from California, Utah, and Washington to boost capacity within the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System. Firefighters arriving from Utah will be assigned to the Grasshopper Fire.
Task forces were sent via Immediate Response on Saturday, July 25, to work alongside wildland partners to protect the communities of Sportsman Park and Pine Hollow.
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has established levels 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders. Residents seeking information regarding evacuations can follow the sheriff’s office on Facebook.
State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said that wildfires continue to challenge the state and noted that the upcoming weekend forecast is concerning due to expected hot, dry, and windy conditions.
Ruiz-Temple advised Oregonians to be wildfire aware, maintain an evacuation plan, and sign up for emergency alerts in their respective counties. This marks the eleventh time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked in 2026.
