NASA's Earth Observatory reported on August 13, 2026 that astronauts on the International Space Station photographed Mount Hood and Mount Rainier as wildfire smoke spread across the Pacific Northwest in summer 2026.

A July 31 photo showed Mount Hood, Oregon's tallest peak at 11,249 feet (3,429 meters), near a thick plume from the Grasshopper fire, which a July 23 lightning strike ignited. According to InciWeb, as of August 12 the fire had burned nearly 84,000 acres (34,000 hectares) and spread beyond Mount Hood National Forest boundaries; some Wasco County communities were under “go now” evacuation orders and Dufur was advised to prepare for immediate evacuation.

In an August 4 photo, Mount Rainier, Washington's tallest peak at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters), was wreathed in smoke drifting from fires in central and eastern Washington. The National Park Service reported unhealthy air quality in the park that day due to elevated fine particulate matter. The Grand Park 2 fire was later observed within park boundaries; as of August 12 it had burned 223 acres (90 hectares) and was uncontained, cause undetermined. NASA cited a National Interagency Fire Center outlook expecting above-normal fire potential across the Northwest through August.