Oregon's 2026 wildfire season edges toward the state burn record

Oregon’s 2026 wildfire season has burned about 2.014 million acres across 60 large fires, narrowing in on the 2024 all-time record of 2.082 million acres. With months left in the fire season and a Red Flag Warning in the Willamette Valley, officials say the state could surpass the record as extremely receptive fuels, lightning, wind, and heat drive rapid fire growth. While most large fires haven’t been human-caused so far, the share of human-caused starts is rising (about 56% this year). The five largest fires—Big Grass, Rowe Creek Complex, Coleman Creek, Hay Creek Complex, and Second Flat—are listed with containment levels, and residents are urged to follow fire restrictions, maintain vehicles to prevent sparks, sign up for OR-Alert, and prepare go bags.