Eastern Oregon Under Siege: Rowe Creek Complex, Paradise Fire Drive Multi-County Response

North-central and eastern Oregon is facing an intense multi-fire siege as the summer of 2026 draws to a close. As of September 1, 10 large fires are actively burning across the state, prompting evacuation orders, threatening communities, and drawing a massive multi-agency firefighting response. Oregon's fire situation has been called one of the most complex in the state's recent history.

Rowe Creek Complex: 373,000+ Acres, Winding Down

The Rowe Creek Complex, managed by the BLM's Prineville District, has burned approximately 373,927 acres across Wheeler County and neighboring areas, making it one of the largest fire events in Oregon this season. The complex is burning southwest of the town of Fossil, near Highway 218, and lies approximately one mile east of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

As of late August, the Rowe Creek Complex has reached 93% containment, and the Oregon Department of Forestry's Complex Incident Management Team 2 was preparing to transfer command as crews transitioned from active suppression to extended mop-up operations. Approximately 1,305 personnel remain assigned to the complex.

Overnight engine crews continue to patrol the southern portion of the fire perimeter for residual smoke and heat. With containment nearly complete, road closures and some evacuation restrictions are expected to be lifted in the coming days, though residents should continue to check local emergency management channels for official announcements.

Paradise Fire: Active Threat Near Milton-Freewater

The Paradise Fire on the Umatilla National Forest remains an active concern, burning approximately 9,329 acres about 18 miles east of Milton-Freewater in northeastern Oregon near the Washington border. The fire remains in active suppression with crews working to establish and hold containment lines in difficult terrain.

The Umatilla National Forest has issued trail and area closures in the vicinity of the fire. Residents in Umatilla County near the fire are urged to monitor local emergency management alerts and be prepared to evacuate if conditions change rapidly.

Akawa Butte Fire: Deschutes and Jefferson Counties

The Akawa Butte Fire continues to burn across parts of Deschutes and Jefferson counties in central Oregon, adding to the air quality impacts affecting the Bend area and surrounding communities. Residents in those counties have been experiencing intermittent periods of unhealthy air quality conditions tied to this fire and others burning across the region.

Baker City Area Also Threatened

A separate fire burning approximately 22 miles northwest of Baker City in eastern Oregon remains on the active fire list, with resources assigned and crews working suppression actions in remote terrain west of the city.

Evacuation Guidance for Eastern Oregon Residents

The Oregon State Fire Marshal maintains an interactive evacuation map at osfminfo.org/maps that is updated as conditions change. Residents are urged to:

Know their evacuation level (Level 1: Be Ready, Level 2: Be Set, Level 3: Go Now)
Prepare a go bag with essential documents, medications, and supplies
Register their livestock and large animals with local emergency management
Sign up for county emergency alert systems