Wildland fire smoke mingled with glaciated volcanoes across the U.S. According to the International Space Station Program, astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory used a Nikon Z9 digital camera with a 400-millimeter focal length to document thick plumes drifting across Mount Hood and Mount Rainier in late July and early August.
Mount Hood Grasshopper Fire Triggers Evacuations
Oregon’s tallest peak, the 11,249-foot Mount Hood, stood adjacent to a dense column of smoke pouring from the Grasshopper fire. According to InciWeb, a lightning strike ignited the blaze on July 23 following thunderstorms that passed over the forest. Hot and dry conditions fueled the rapid spread of the fire across the Mount Hood National Forest, pushing it east of the mountain.
By August 12, the Grasshopper fire had consumed nearly 84,000 acres, crossing beyond national forest boundaries. In response, local authorities issued “go now” evacuation orders for several communities in Wasco County, while advising the nearby town of Dufur to prepare for immediate evacuation.
Mount Rainier Air Quality Plummets from Regional Smoke
Roughly 100 miles north in Washington, the 14,411-foot Mount Rainier was wreathed in smoke on August 4. According to the National Park Service, no major fires burned directly nearby at the time. Instead, an offshore high-pressure system drove easterly winds that carried smoke from fires burning in central and eastern Washington.
That drift pushed air quality within the park to unhealthy levels due to elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5. Several days later, a separate blaze—the Grand Park 2 fire—ignited within park boundaries about 3 miles north of the Sunrise Visitor Center. According to InciWeb, that uncontained fire had burned 223 acres by August 12, with its cause remaining undetermined.
Did you know? Astronaut photographs captured from the International Space Station are processed by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at NASA Johnson Space Center to provide researchers and the public with high-contrast views of Earth’s changing landscape.
Northwest Fire Potential and El Niño Influences
Above-normal fire potential is expected to persist across the Northwest through August, according to an outlook released by the National Interagency Fire Center’s Predictive Services. Forecasters noted that warm, dry weather influenced by El Niño combined with cured fuels to create prime conditions for large, long-burning fires following lightning or human-caused ignitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Grasshopper fire near Mount Hood?
According to InciWeb, the fire was ignited by a lightning strike on July 23 following thunderstorms in the area.
How large was the Grand Park 2 fire at Mount Rainier?
According to InciWeb data from August 12, the Grand Park 2 fire had burned 223 acres and remained uncontained.
Why was air quality poor at Mount Rainier on August 4?
According to the National Park Service, easterly winds pushed smoke from fires in central and eastern Washington into the park, elevating fine particulate matter.
What factors are driving the severe fire season in the Pacific Northwest?
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, warm and dry weather influenced by El Niño, combined with cured fuels, has maintained above-normal fire potential.
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