Grass Fire Near Grants Pass, Oregon Prompts Evacuations and Aerial Suppression

A fast‑moving grass fire along Interstate 5 near Grants Pass, Oregon, expanded from an estimated 10 acres to about 50‑60 acres within hours on August 1, 2026. The Oregon Department of Forestry and local fire agencies launched an aggressive attack, deploying two Type 2 helicopters for water drops, a third en route, and additional aerial assets including four Large Air Tankers and one Very Large Air Tanker.

Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders were issued for zones GRA‑022, GRA‑034 and GRA‑036, with Level 2 “Be Set” orders for zone JCU‑422‑B. One northbound lane of I‑5 was closed, causing traffic delays. Power was shut off on Beacon Hill, leaving roughly 2,000 customers without electricity. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.