The Big Grass Fire, burning across southeastern Oregon's Malheur County and southwestern Idaho's Owyhee County, has grown to approximately 579,006 acres as of August 20, 2026 — making it not only the largest active fire in the Pacific Northwest but also Oregon's largest wildfire in recorded history. Crews have made significant progress, achieving 85% containment after weeks of battling one of the most challenging fires in the region's recent memory.
Historic Scale
The Big Grass Fire surpassed the previous Oregon state record of 557,028 acres set by the 2012 Long Draw Fire, also in Malheur County. The fire started from a lightning strike and quickly spread across the high desert grasslands and sagebrush steppe of the Jordan Valley area — terrain that fueled rapid, wind-driven growth.
At its most active phases, the fire raced across thousands of acres per day, driven by dry fuels, low humidity, and erratic winds. The fire's footprint now encompasses remote ranch lands, grazing allotments, and critical wildlife habitat.
Recent Fire Activity and Complications
Thunderstorms that swept across parts of Malheur County, Oregon, and Owyhee County, Idaho, in the week of August 16 sparked several new spot fires even as crews made containment gains on the main fire perimeter. Those new ignitions required rapid initial attack response to prevent additional acreage from being added.
At its 35% containment stage — roughly a week ago — the fire was still actively threatening structures and prompting evacuations in the Jordan Valley and Owyhee County communities. As containment has climbed toward 85%, evacuation orders have been progressively reduced, though some areas remain under precautionary notices.
Economic and Ecological Impact
The fire has caused significant losses to the ranching community that depends on grazing lands in the region. Thousands of acres of rangeland critical to cattle and sheep operations have been burned, and fencing, water infrastructure, and other ranch improvements have been destroyed across both states.
Wildlife agencies are assessing impacts to sage-grouse habitat, pronghorn antelope populations, and other species that rely on the sagebrush steppe ecosystem. Recovery of these landscapes is expected to take years to decades depending on invasive species pressure, particularly cheatgrass, which often colonizes burned sagebrush areas and can accelerate future fire cycles.
Ongoing Operations
Firefighting operations continue with crews focusing on patrolling and strengthening remaining containment lines, particularly in areas where terrain and remote access have made line construction difficult. The 15% of the fire that remains uncontained includes sections in steeper canyon country where aerial resources are supporting ground crews.
The NIFC situation report noted that Big Grass Fire crews have demonstrated sustained commitment over a months-long campaign. Fire managers expect to achieve full containment in the coming days if favorable weather holds, though afternoon heating and low relative humidity continue to present challenges.
Residents with questions about specific property access or remaining restrictions should contact the Malheur County Emergency Management office or the Owyhee County Sheriff's Office for Idaho-side updates.