Red flag warnings issued for Oregon wildfires, Meadows evacuates 7%
By Zach Urness29%
8/4/2026, 11:19:23 AM
BS Summary: This article contains 14 faulty reasoning types, including Appeal to Authority, Pessimism Bias, and Appeal to Emotion, with Negativity Bias as the most egregious example at 11.3% saturation with 111 hits. Analysis detected 574 faulty-reasoning hits from 982 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 17.3% and a BS Rank of 7% (26,136 of 28,059 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 93.10% of the article peer group.
It remains a dangerous week for wildfires across Oregon, with new evacuations on Mount Hood, and red flag warnings in the north and south, boiling temperatures and smoke degrading air quality.
The Grasshopper Fire's growth led to evacuations for the Mount Hood area Aug. 4 while small grass fires popped up across the Willamette Valley — bringing evacuations outside Stayton.
Even so, some of the state's largest blazes continued to come under containment.
Oregon has burned 2.026 million acres, just short of the record 2.08 million burned in 2024.
Here's a roundup of notes and updates on Oregon's major wildfires.
Mount Hood Meadows is under a level 3 "go now" evacuation order as of Aug. 4 due to growth of the 34,659-acre Grasshopper Fire.
The level 3 evacuation includes parts of the east side of Oregon's tallest mountain while level 1 and 2 evacuation warnings have been issued for the central mountain and west side near Government Camp.
The upgraded evacuations have taken place as the fire has been pushed west by hot and dry east winds.
A red flag warning has been issued for the fire Aug. 4, indicating it could grow in size.
"Whelp, we hoped we wouldn’t have to post this, but here we are," said Meadows in a morning social media post.
"We are in communication with the Forest Service and are watching the weather diligently.
We ask that everyone stay away from the area so fire personnel can do their jobs."
Red flag warnings will challenge fire crews at different times this week.
In the Columbia River Gorge, the warning is from 11 a.m. on Aug. 4 to 8 p.m. on Aug.
5.
Powerful east winds will be "favorable for rapid fire spread which may threaten life and property," the National Weather Service wrote.
In southern Oregon, where temperatures are forecast to rise well over 100 degrees, the red flag is in place from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Aug.
4.
Downed power lines ignited a grassfire that briefly brought evacuations outside of Stayton on Aug.
3.
Residents on Neal Street SE were evacuated as firefighters battled a fast-spreading fire fueled by the wind.
The fire was eventually knocked down in the evening, but at least one outbuilding was lost to the fire.
Full story here.
The 34,659-acre Grasshopper Fire burning around and in the Badger Creek Wilderness has already burned down a popular lookout and closed multiple recreation areas in Mount Hood National Forest.
It was at 19% containment on Aug.
4.
A red flag warning was issued for the area due to dry, warm conditions with stronger east winds on Aug.
4.
"These hot, dry winds could test containment lines on the western flank of the fire and push fire higher into the wilderness, closer to Lookout Mountain, Gumjuwac Pass, and Badger Lake," said a morning update.
Crews will strengthen control lines along the southern end of the fire to protect Sportsmans Park and Pine Hollow.
Aircraft resources will work to slow fire spread to the north and northwest while crews prepare Forest Service Road 2730 and Bennett Pass Road as barriers, according to the Forest Service.
Several recreation areas around Badger Creek Wilderness remained closed because of the fire, including Badger Lake Campground, Rocky Butte Trail, Badger Creek Trail and Rock Creek Reservoir area, as well as several others listed by the Forest Service online.
Evacuation orders, including Level 3 "Go Now," remained for areas of Wasco and Hood River counties, searchable on a perimeter map.
A campfire ban remained in place for Mount Hood National Forest.
Crews worked to construct containment lines around the Big Grass Fire burning near the Oywhee River.
The fire grew to 346,757 acres at 25% containment.
Warmer and drier conditions are expected to develop in the coming days.
Level 1 evacuation orders remained in place around Antelope Reservoir.
Crews reinforced containment lines around the Hagen Fire burning four miles southwest of Tollgate in anticipation of hot, breezy weather.
The fire grew to 40,390 acre at 11% containment.
Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders remained in place around Bingham Road.
Crews extinguished scattered heat pockets on the Shingle Fire burning around 10 miles west of Dayville.
The fire grew to 70,551 acres at 33% containment.
Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders remained in place around Spanish Peak.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast.
He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6801.
Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social
The I-5 MM 57 NB fire about 1 mile east from Grants Pass was 8% contained and held at 100 acres on Aug. 4, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Overnight crews strengthened control lines and mop-up efforts despite red flag weather conditions.
Crews will continue mop-up with aircraft support available for support on Aug.
4.
"Drivers are asked to use extra caution when traveling through the area to help keep both firefighters and the public safe," said ODF.
A Level 1 evacuation order is in place for parts of Josephine County, searchable on a Genasys system online.
The Castle Fire burning about 1 mile east of Carmen Lake was at 2,758 acres and 30% containment on Aug. 3, according to the Forest Service.
Crews made progress on containment Aug. 3 despite warming weather conditions and decreased humidity.
Mop-up efforts will continue.
Umpqua National Forest expanded closures to the area including lands, roads and trails.
A full list of closed recreation areas is viewable online.
Air quality deteriorated across western Oregon as shifting winds brought wildfire smoke west of the Cascades.
Conditions by Aug. 4 were "unhealthy for sensitive groups" in widespread areas of northwest Oregon.
The smokey skies are expected to stay in place until around Aug. 6 or 7.
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4speakers19%attributed speech799writer words
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73%flagged-word coverageMeadows
51 attributed words28% of attributed speech37% writer coverage
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