A series of dry thunderstorm events that swept through the Pacific Northwest in mid-July produced thousands of lightning strikes and ignited dozens of new wildfires across Oregon and Washington. The fires have strained regional firefighting resources to their limit, with both the Northwest Geographic Area and the national system operating at Preparedness Level 5 — the highest possible designation.
Grasshopper Fire: Mt. Hood National Forest
The Grasshopper Fire, burning in Wasco County within Mt. Hood National Forest, was first reported July 23 after lightning storms moved over the forest. The fire started north of Forest Road 4812 and west of Rocky Butte, and had grown to more than 4,500 acres by Sunday morning, July 26.
The fire is one of several burning in and around Mt. Hood National Forest, adding pressure to an already resource-strained system. The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center has been working to prioritize resource assignments as multiple fires compete for the same crews, engines, and aircraft.
Ptarmigan Fire: North Cascades, Washington
In Washington state, the Ptarmigan Fire is burning approximately four miles south of the Canadian border in the Pasayten Wilderness, within Okanogan County on the Methow Valley Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. As of the latest update, the fire had burned 1,190 acres and remained 0% contained.
Trail closures are in effect for areas near the Ptarmigan Fire. The wilderness setting makes ground access extremely difficult, limiting what crews can safely accomplish. Fire managers are monitoring the fire closely, particularly given its proximity to the international boundary.
Bologna Fire and Other Regional Incidents
The Bologna Fire and Grasshopper Fire were among multiple incidents receiving July 26 updates from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. The wave of lightning-caused fires has tested the NWCC's ability to coordinate resource allocation across Oregon and Washington, where 21 and 5 large fires are burning, respectively, as of July 26.
The NWCC in Portland serves as the focal point for interagency coordination for Oregon and Washington, working across the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and other cooperating agencies.
Dry Thunderstorm Threat Continues
Dry thunderstorms — storms that produce lightning and little or no rainfall — pose a particularly dangerous ignition threat in fire-prone landscapes. Unlike wet thunderstorms, their precipitation evaporates before reaching the ground, offering no moisture benefit while still delivering thousands of ignition sources to dry vegetation.
Meteorologists are monitoring the potential for additional dry thunderstorm activity in portions of the region through the week ahead. Residents should stay aware of local fire restrictions, which are in place across much of Oregon and Washington. Campfires, fireworks, and other ignition sources are prohibited in many areas.