2026 Oregon wildfires

2026 Oregon wildfires
Burn scar from the Big Grass Fire on the border of Oregon and Idaho
Statistics
Total fires1,667[1]
Total area2,533,782 acres (1,025,385 ha; 3,959.034 sq mi) (August 26)[2]
Impacts
Deaths1[3]
← 2025

The 2026 Oregon wildfire season is a ongoing and severe wildfire season that is primarily affecting central, north and Eastern Oregon.[4][5] According to officials, they anticipated this season would potentially have been severe.[6][7] In Southern Oregon, restrictions in Jackson County and Josephine County were initiated with the start of the fire season in May 2026, with it quickly escalating into a major lightning sparked wildfire event by July.[8]

Background

"Fire season" in Oregon typically begins in mid-May and ends with the first rains that normally begins in late September. Drought, snowpack levels, and local weather conditions play a role in Oregon's fire season, particularly in Eastern and Southwest Oregon. During peak fire season from July to September, most wildfires are caused by lightning, while ignitions in the early and later parts of the season are related to humans. Warm, dry conditions in summer heighten the wildfire risk. After over 100 years of fire suppression and prevention of all fires, there is now an abundance of fuel. Climate change is leading to a reduced snowpack with an earlier and reduced snowmelt, so there is a higher risk for areas that receive wildfires.[9]

By July of 2026, despite a relatively slow start to the season, thousands of lightning strikes sparked numerous wildfires that expanded across north central Oregon, with many prompting immediate evacuations for areas many miles wide and catching firefighters off guard by the sudden and dramatic increase in activity, especially in Wheeler, Gilliam and Baker counties.[10][11] Two major wildfire complexes occurred after most of the major wildfires merged, especially into the Crosswhite fire which quickly burned passed 100,000 acres. This fire was a part of the Rowe Creek Complex, and the Hay creek complex, a little farther north, also contained several large and rapidly growing fires due to extremely dry conditions and an ongoing heatwave.[12] multiple west coast task forces and the national guard were deployed to help fight these fires and other fires to the south, north, and east that were also showing significant growth.[13] Smoke from all of these wildfires contributed to widespread very unhealthy air quality, with the entire state having the worst air quality in the United States for a prolonged period, along with air quality advisories being issued.[14][15] The Crosswhite fire also merged with the 28,000 acre Box Springs fire on July 28, bringing its total past 170,000 acres, as crews continued to battle extreme fire weather conditions, primarily in the form of widespread Red Flag warnings and more lightning storms sparking even more wildfires across the state, as over 2,000 Lightning strikes occurred in a time frame of only a few hours.[16][17]

In the beginning of August, the National Interagency Fire Center and Oregon Department of Forestry were both reporting that the season-to-date cumulative wildfire acreage was over two million acres, making 2026 the state's most active wildfire season.

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date[a] Notes Ref
Pine Mountain Deschutes 2,589 May 7[b] May 11 Started from an escaped prescribed burn. Burned southeast of Bend. [19][20]
Zen Wasco 1,634 May 25 May 29 Burned 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Clarno. [21][22]
Frontage Baker 1,938 June 6 June 7 Undetermined cause. Burned near Huntington. Prompted evacuations for Farewell Bend State Park and closed Interstate 84 and U.S. 30. [23][24]
Unknown Umatilla 6 June 9 June 9 Burned in Umatilla. Destroyed one home, five outbuildings, and several vehicles. [25]
Old Emigrant Umatilla 1,424 June 16 June 21 Prompted Level 2 evacuations north of Interstate 84 south of Mission. [26][27]
Basin Malheur 1,404 June 20 June 21 Lightning-caused. Burned southeast of U.S. 95, 10 miles (16 km) south of Rome. [28][29]
Dry Creek Malheur 3,205 June 20 June 21 Burned 10 miles (16 km) south of Rome. [30][31]
Unknown Umatilla 1,300 June 21 June 21 Burning in Milton-Freewater. [32]
Lytle Malheur 6,063 June 22 June 25 Burned 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Vale. [33]
Antelope Creek Wasco 1,347 July 4 July 6 Cause under investigation. Burned 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Antelope and prompted evacuation orders. [34][35]
North Cayuse Umatilla 4,887 July 4 August 5 Burned near Adams and prompted evacuations. [36]
Salmon Baker, Grant 1,433 July 7
86%
 Lightning-caused. Includes the Greenhorn Fire. Burning west of Greenhorn and prompting evacuations. Injured two firefighters. [37][38][39]
Olive Butte Grant 3,092 July 7
94%
 Lightning-caused. Burning in Sumpter and prompting evacuations. [40][38]
Anthony Baker 2,584 July 7
89%
 Lightning-caused. Burning in the Elkhorn Mountains and prompting evacuations. [41][42]
East Evans Creek Jackson 15,580 July 10
98%
 Burning 14 miles (23 km) northeast of Rogue River and prompting evacuations. [43]
Lower Dry Creek Umatilla 8,096 July 15 July 18 Burned near Weston prompting evacuation of the entire city. One home and multiple structures have been lost. The fire has closed down highways 11 and 204, and cut power to the City of Athena. [44][45]
Hay Creek Complex Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco, Wheeler 200,292 July 15 August 8 Lightning-caused complex comprising the Hopkin, Porcupine Ridge, Hoag, Little Buck, and Cottonwood fires. The Hoag and Cottonwood fires to the north merged, while in the south the Little Buck and Porcupine Ridge fires merged, nearly merging with the Crosswhite East fire at the John Day River near the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - Clarno Unit. [46]
Rowe Creek Complex Crook, Jefferson, Wasco, Wheeler 373,981 July 15
91%
 Complex of multiple lightning-caused fires, prompting widespread evacuations for a large region of central Oregon. Though also including the Camel Hump and Deep Canyon fires, it comprises primarily the Crosswhite East fire, which merged with the Pats Cabin, Cove Creek, and 059 fires on July 19, Box Springs fire on July 23, and Green Mountain and Brewer fires on July 27. The area where the Crosswhite East, Green Mountain, and Brewer fires is managed as the Rowe Creek Complex - West Zone. Overall, the Rowe Creek Complex burned a majority of the land in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. 1 fatality from the Brewer fire. [47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54]
Akawa Butte Jefferson 27,429 July 16
99%
 Lightning-caused. Burning southwest of Lake Billy Chinook and prompting evacuations, moving to the south and west. It destroyed two homes, including the stone house at Wildhaven Preserve. [55][50][56][57]
Coyote Crook 17,448 July 16
89%
 Lightning-caused. Burning south of Post. Prompting evacuations and threatening structures. [58][50][59]
Paradise Umatilla, Wallowa, Columbia (WA), Walla Walla (WA) 2,927 July 16
0%
 Lightning-caused. Burning on the border of Washington in the Umatilla National Forest. [60]
Henry Crook 29,889 July 16
97%
 Burning 1.7 miles (2.7 km) south of Paulina. [61]
Powder River Baker 21,088 July 16
96%
 Burning 0.5 miles (0.80 km) west of the Powder River and threatening structures. [62][63]
Egypt Harney 4,553 July 16
82%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 13 miles (21 km) north of Riley. [64][65]
Hagen Umatilla & Union 59,515.3 July 16
19%
 Burning 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Gibbon. Prompting evacuations. [66][67]
Bologna Grant 2,425 July 17 August 7 Burning 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Monument. [68]
Burnt Creek Wallowa 4,169 July 17
87%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 23 miles (37 km) north of Enterprise. [69][70]
Cow Camp Complex Malheur 8,044 July 21 July 24 Included eight individual fires. Burned north of Brogan. [71]
Castle Douglas 3,612 July 22
67%
 Likely lightning-caused. Burning northwest of Crater Lake National Park. [72]
Ten Mile Jefferson, Wasco 4,834 July 23 July 30 Burned and caused evacuations along Route 97. [73]
Big Grass Malheur, Owyhee (ID) 578,635 July 23
89%
 Burning southeast of Jordan Valley. Largest wildfire in Oregon history, though partially burning in Owyhee County, Idaho. [74][75]
Stubble Harney 15,673 July 23
93%
 Burning south of Malheur Lake and prompting evacuations. [76]
Crowley Malheur 2,500 July 23 July 25 Burned in Harper. [77]
Shingle Baker 73,092 July 23
70%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Mitchell and prompting evacuations. [78][79]
Bench Jefferson 67,080 July 23
86%
 Burning 9 miles (14 km) southwest of Warm Springs and prompting evacuations. Merged with the Beachcomb Fire on July 26. [80]
Grasshopper Hood River, Wasco 93,561.9 July 23
76%
 Burning east of Government Camp and prompting evacuations around Mount Hood and Pine Hollow. [81]
Bald Mountain Harney, Malheur 76,134 July 23
67%
 Burning across the Stonehouse Wilderness Study Area. [82]
Fox Baker 79,002 July 24
63%
 Burning in Huntington and prompting evacuations. Reached the Powder River Fire burn scar on July 30. The fire destroyed 3 homes, and Huntington Fire Chief Eric Bronson was injured while fighting the fire. [83][84][85]
Hat Malheur 44,122 July 24
99%
 Burning 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Hat Butte. [86]
Jackass Butte Harney 24,724 July 24
92%
 Burning on Jackass Mountain. [87][88]
Second Flat Harney 105,854.3 July 24
96%
 Burning north of U.S. 20 and prompting evacuations in around the city of Burns. [89]
Coleman Creek Harney, Malheur 308,863 July 24
99%
 Burning in the vicinity of Warm Springs Reservoir and threatened the town of Juntura. [90]
Eggo Wallowa 4,226 August 1
60%
 Likely lightning-caused. [91]
Round Butte Jefferson 1,163 August 1
90%
 Prompted some evacuations near Madras. [92]
Wrights Spring Klamath 54,324.5 August 5
55%
 Burning north of Klamath Falls. [93]
Austin Clackamas 4,808.1 August 9
7%
 Level 3 evacuations in effect. [94]
Picture Rock Lake County 1,228.3 August 16
70%
 North of Summer Lake. [95]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.[18]
  2. ↑ Prescribed burn escaped on May 7 but was initially conducted on May 1

References

  1. ↑ "Wildland Fire Situation Report". odffire. Oregon Department of Forestry. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Wildland Fire Situation Report". odffire. Oregon Department of Forestry. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  3. ↑ "'Tragic loss': Oregon man dies while trying to protect home from wildfire". koin. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  4. ↑ Johnson, Kimberly (July 18, 2026). "Media Release-July 18, 2026". Central Oregon Fire Information. Archived from the original on July 24, 2026. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ Urness, Zach. "Oregon hit by 8,357 lightning strikes, sparking new wildfires". Statesman Journal. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  6. ↑ Lugo, Dianne. "Kotek warns of severe and difficult 2026 Oregon wildfire season". Statesman Journal. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Oregon Prepares for a Challenging Summer of Water Shortages and High Fire Risk". The New York Times. May 12, 2026. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 13, 2026. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Jackson and Josephine counties enter fire season amid a dry spring". opb. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Oregon Fire Season: In-Depth Guide". wfca.com. Western Fire Chiefs Association. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  10. ↑ Graff, Amy (July 17, 2026). "Dozens of Wildfires Are Suddenly Burning in Oregon". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ Urness, Zach. "With 23 wildfires burning, Oregon enters teeth of fire season". Statesman Journal. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  12. ↑ Spoto, Maia; Graff, Amy (July 18, 2026). "What to Know About Fires Caused by Lightning in the Pacific Northwest". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  13. ↑ "West Coast task forces mobilized to fight Oregon fires". opb. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  14. ↑ Loew, Tracy. "Much of Oregon under smoke, air quality advisories this weekend". Statesman Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  15. ↑ Varma, Tanvi (July 21, 2026). "Oregon DEQ issues air quality health advisory for multiple counties due to wildfire smoke". KATU. Archived from the original on July 28, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  16. ↑ Olle, Jaimie (July 24, 2026). "Brewer & Box Springs Fires | July 24, 2026". Central Oregon Fire Information. Archived from the original on July 24, 2026. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Powerful storm sees 2,000 lightning strikes spark 35 wildfires in just hours in Central Oregon". July 24, 2026. Archived from the original on July 25, 2026. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  18. ↑ "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Archived from the original on February 9, 2026. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Pine Mountain Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Prescribed burn escapes in eastern Deschutes County". KLCC. May 7, 2026. Archived from the original on May 8, 2026. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Zen Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Rain slows Zen Fire growth near Clarno after crews battled wind-driven flames". Central Oregon Daily News. May 26, 2026. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Frontage Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Frontage Fire near Huntington sparks evacuations, closes I-84 and Highway 30". Argus Observer. June 7, 2026. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  25. ↑ Desaulniers, Robert (June 13, 2026). "Six-acre brush fire causes significant damage in Umatilla, no injuries reported". KAPP. Archived from the original on June 18, 2026. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Old Emigrant Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  27. ↑ Rattner, Mark (June 16, 2026). "Wind-driven fire near Pendleton growing rapidly, evacuation level raised to 2". KNDO. Archived from the original on June 17, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Basin Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  29. ↑ "BASIN - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.statesmanjournal.com. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Dry Creek Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  31. ↑ "DRY CREEK - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.usatoday.com. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Vegetation Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Lytle Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Antelope Creek Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  35. ↑ "'Go Now' evacuations ordered as Antelope Creek Fire burns in Wasco County". KATU. July 4, 2026. Archived from the original on July 4, 2026. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  36. ↑ "North Cayuse Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Salmon Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  38. 1 2 Cossette, Sophia (July 13, 2026). "Salmon and Olive Butte fires in eastern Oregon 0% contained". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  39. ↑ "2 firefighters hurt on Salmon Fire near Greenhorn; both in stable condition". Baker City Herald. July 15, 2026. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Olive Butte Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Anthony Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  42. ↑ Jacoby, Jayson (July 10, 2026). "2017 fire scar helping to slow Anthony Fire". Baker City Herald. Archived from the original on July 11, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  43. ↑ "East Evans Creek Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Lower Dry Creek Fire near Milton-Freewater forcing Level 3 evacuation orders". Apple Valley News Now. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Lower Dry Creek Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Hay Creek Complex Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Rowe Creek Complex Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 19, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Crosswhite East Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Rowe Creek Complex-West Zone Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  50. 1 2 3 "More Than 2,000 Lightning Strikes Sparked at Least a Dozen Significant Fires". The Source Weekly. July 17, 2026. Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  51. ↑ "Two growing wildfires force evacuations in Wasco, Wheeler counties". KATU. July 16, 2026. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  52. ↑ Warner, Lori (July 20, 2026). "Rowe Creek Complex forms as fires merge; Crosswhite Fire tops 113,000 acres across Wheeler, Wasco and Crook counties". Daily Dispatch. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  53. ↑ Olle, Jaimie (July 24, 2026). "Brewer & Box Springs Fires | July 24, 2026". Central Oregon Fire Information. Archived from the original on July 24, 2026. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  54. ↑ Olle, Jaimie (July 21, 2026). "Oregon man dies in ATV crash while defending home from fire". KPTV. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  55. ↑ "Akawa Butte Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  56. ↑ "Level 3 'Go Now' evacuation orders expand in Central Oregon as Akawa Butte Fire heads east". opb. Archived from the original on July 24, 2026. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  57. ↑ Cornelius, Jim (August 11, 2026). "Wildhaven destroyed by Akawa Butte Fire". The Nugget Newspaper. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
  58. ↑ "Coyote Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  59. ↑ "Wildfire Fact Sheet - Coyote Fire". centraloregonfgire.org. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  60. ↑ "Paradise Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  61. ↑ "Henry Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  62. ↑ "Powder River Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  63. ↑ "Range fire burning west of Richland". Baker City Herald. July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  64. ↑ "Egypt Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  65. ↑ McKerrall, Mindy (July 17, 2026). "Egypt and Stone Creek Fire update". elkhornmediagroup.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  66. ↑ "Hagen Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  67. ↑ Rawlings, Matt (July 17, 2026). "Hagen Fire in Umatilla County triggers Level 3 'Go Now' evacuations". KOIN. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  68. ↑ "Bologna Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 19, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  69. ↑ "Burnt Creek Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  70. ↑ "Burnt Creek - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.usatoday.com. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  71. ↑ "Cow Camp Complex Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  72. ↑ "Castle Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  73. ↑ "Ten Mile Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 27, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  74. ↑ "Big Grass Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  75. ↑ Anthony, Tarek (August 11, 2026). "Big Grass fire now largest in state history, 35% contained". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  76. ↑ "Stubble Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on August 4, 2026. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  77. ↑ "Crowley Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  78. ↑ "Shingle Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 27, 2026. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  79. ↑ "Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Update – July 23, 2026 | 5:00 p.m." centraloregonfire.org. July 23, 2026. Archived from the original on July 25, 2026. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  80. ↑ "Bench Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  81. ↑ "Grasshopper Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  82. ↑ "Bald Mountain Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 26, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  83. ↑ "Fox Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on July 27, 2026. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  84. ↑ Bagett, Logan (July 24, 2026). "Level 3 GO NOW evacuations issued for Fox Fire in Baker County". Elkhorn Media Group. Archived from the original on July 25, 2026. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  85. ↑ Carrillo-Casas, Monica. "3 homes razed, a firefighter hurt and a town spared: Eastern Oregon community faces Fox Fire aftermath". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on August 4, 2026. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  86. ↑ "Hat Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  87. ↑ "Jackass Butte Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  88. ↑ McKerrall, Mindy (July 24, 2026). "New wildfire ignites near Jackass Mountain southwest of active Stubble Fire". Elkhorn Media Group. Archived from the original on July 25, 2026. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  89. ↑ "Second Flat Fire Map". Watch Duty. Archived from the original on August 4, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  90. ↑ "Coleman Creek Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  91. ↑ "Eggo Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  92. ↑ "Round Butte Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  93. ↑ "Wrights Spring Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  94. ↑ "Austin Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  95. ↑ "Picture Rock Fire (#313) Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
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