Big Grass Fire Tops 555,000 Acres; Level 3 'Go Now' Orders Span Owyhee County

The Big Grass Fire, burning along the Oregon-Idaho border in the vast high desert of Owyhee County, has grown beyond 555,000 acres and continues to rank as the largest active wildfire in the contiguous United States. Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders remain in effect for large portions of Owyhee County, displacing ranchers, residents, and recreationists from one of the most remote corners of the Pacific Northwest.

Where the Fire Is Burning

The fire has consumed hundreds of thousands of acres of sagebrush, rangeland, and riparian habitat in the Owyhee uplands. The terrain is characterized by deep river canyons, isolated ranch roads, and sparse public services — conditions that make both evacuation and suppression exceptionally challenging.

Mandatory Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders are currently in place for the following areas:

Big Springs Road and Battle Creek Road north, east to Wickahoney, south to the Nevada border, east to Riddle Ranch to Highway 51, including Riddle Ranches
Antelope Ridge Road south to Big Springs Ranch Road, south to the Owyhee River Canyon including Dickshooter, west to the Oregon state line including the 45 Ranch
Triangle Reservoir, Pleasant Valley, South Mountain, Pleasant Valley Road to the City of Triangle
Flint Creek Road, Juniper Mountain Road, and the west portion of Mud Flat Road

Evacuation Routes

Residents under evacuation orders are directed to use Pleasant Valley Road toward Jordan Valley before traveling north on US Highway 95 away from the fire. Those in Reynolds Creek, Murphy, and nearby portions of the Jordan Valley area should monitor alert levels closely and be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.

Resources and Suppression Challenges

The Big Grass Fire is being managed by a Type 1 Incident Management Team. Crews are working to protect structures and critical infrastructure, but the sheer scale of the fire — combined with dry, windy conditions and limited access roads — has made containment lines difficult to establish and hold. Firefighting aircraft, including large air tankers and helicopters, have been working the most active flanks.

Livestock and Agricultural Losses

The agricultural toll is severe. Rangeland that sustains cattle and sheep operations across Owyhee County has been decimated, and reports of livestock losses and destroyed fencing have been widespread. County officials and agricultural agencies are working to assist ranchers with emergency livestock feeds and fencing resources.

Stay Informed