NASA Astronaut Photos Show Cascade Volcanoes Shrouded in Wildfire Smoke

In late July and early August 2026, astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured striking images of wildfire smoke surrounding several snow- and ice-capped volcanoes in the Cascade Mountains. The photographs highlight a dramatic fire-and-ice contrast across the Pacific Northwest.

Mount Hood Surrounded by Grasshopper Fire Smoke

The first image shows Mount Hood, Oregon’s highest mountain, rising to 3,429 meters (11,249 feet) as dense smoke from the Grasshopper Fire spreads across the surrounding landscape.

Thunderstorms moved across the region in the weeks before the fire began. According to InciWeb, a lightning strike on July 23 ignited the Grasshopper Fire on Mount Hood’s eastern slope. Hot, dry weather then helped the fire spread rapidly north and east through the Mount Hood National Forest. The astronaut photograph was taken on July 31, 2026.

By August 12, the Grasshopper Fire had burned nearly 84,000 acres (34,000 hectares), extending beyond the boundaries of the national forest. Several communities in Wasco County were under “evacuate now” orders, while residents of nearby Dufur were advised to prepare for possible immediate evacuation.

Smoke Drifts Over Mount Rainier National Park

A second astronaut photograph captured Mount Rainier, Washington’s highest peak, rising 14,411 feet (4,392 meters) above a blanket of wildfire smoke. The mountain is located about 160 miles north of Mount Hood.

There were no major fires immediately near Mount Rainier when the image was taken on August 4. Instead, winds carried smoke from wildfires in central and eastern Washington toward the national park. According to regional weather analysis, offshore high pressure helped direct the smoke westward.

That day, the National Park Service reported unhealthy air quality within Mount Rainier National Park because of elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5).

Grand Park 2 Fire Burns Inside Mount Rainier National Park

Several days after the astronaut image was taken, the Grand Park 2 Fire was reported burning within the boundaries of Mount Rainier National Park, approximately 5 miles north of the Sunrise Visitor Center.

As of August 12, the fire had burned 223 acres (90 hectares) and remained uncontained. Officials had not yet determined the cause of the fire.

Above-Normal Wildfire Risk Continues Across the Northwest

The National Interagency Fire Center outlook indicated that above-normal wildfire potential would continue across the Pacific Northwest into August.

Warm, dry weather and exceptionally dry fuels created favorable conditions for large, long-lasting wildfires. Lightning strikes and human-caused ignitions can rapidly spread under these conditions, producing smoke that travels hundreds of miles and affects air quality far from the fire zone.

NASA astronaut photographs ISS075-E-1705 and ISS075-E-2221 were taken on July 31, 2026, and August 4, 2026, respectively. Expedition 75 crew members used a Nikon Z9 digital camera with a 400-millimeter focal length to photograph Earth from the International Space Station. The images were provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

The photographs were cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts were removed. The imagery was collected as part of the International Space Station program, with support from the ISS National Laboratory. The program enables astronauts to capture Earth images that support scientific research and public education. More astronaut photography is available through NASA’s Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Story by Kathryn Hansen.

Mount Rainier: August 4, 2026

Mount Hood: July 31, 2026

Sources

• InciWeb (August 12, 2026), Grand Park 2 Fire. Accessed August 12, 2026.
• InciWeb (August 11, 2026), Grasshopper Fire. Accessed August 12, 2026.
• National Interagency Fire Center Predictive Services (August 1, 2026), Monthly and Seasonal Wildland Fire Outlook. Accessed August 12, 2026.
• OPB (August 11, 2026), Fire grows near Mount Hood, prompting new evacuations in Wasco and Clackamas counties. Accessed August 12, 2026.
• Washington Smoke Blog (August 4, 2026), Smoke continues to increase across Washington. Accessed August 12, 2026.