The 2026 wildfire season is proving to be one of the most active in recent memory for the Pacific Northwest, with destructive fires near Boise, Lake Chelan, Pendleton, and Vantage already highlighting just how rapidly a fire can go from ignition to emergency. Emergency managers across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho are urging residents in fire-prone areas to complete their evacuation and preparedness plans now — not when an evacuation order arrives.

Know Your Evacuation Zone

Washington, Oregon, and Idaho all use a three-level evacuation system:

  • Level 1 (Be Ready): A wildfire threat exists in your area. Be aware, gather your belongings, and prepare to leave if necessary.
  • Level 2 (Be Set): A wildfire is approaching. Be prepared to leave at a moment's notice. Vulnerable residents — elderly, those with disabilities, those with livestock — should consider leaving now.
  • Level 3 (Go Now): Leave immediately. Do not wait to gather belongings. Your life is at risk.

Residents should look up their specific evacuation zone now, before an emergency. Many counties provide online mapping tools. In Washington, county sheriff's offices manage evacuations; in Oregon, county emergency management offices coordinate with ODF and OEM; in Idaho, the Office of Emergency Management works with county sheriffs.

Build Your Go-Bag

A go-bag should be kept near your door and ready to grab in minutes. It should contain:

  • Identification documents (passport, driver's license, birth certificates) in a waterproof bag
  • Prescription medications — at least a week's supply
  • Phone charger and a portable battery pack
  • Cash (ATMs and card readers may not function during power outages)
  • Change of clothes and sturdy shoes
  • N95 masks for smoke protection
  • Important financial documents and insurance policies
  • A USB drive with digital copies of key documents
  • Food and water for 72 hours

Protect Your Home with Defensible Space

Creating defensible space gives firefighters a chance to protect your home and may allow the structure to survive even without direct firefighter presence. Oregon, Washington, and Idaho all have laws and guidelines around defensible space. Key steps include:

  • Clear dead vegetation, dry leaves, and debris from within 30 feet of your home (Zone 1)
  • Reduce the density of trees and shrubs from 30-100 feet around structures (Zone 2)
  • Clean gutters of leaves and pine needles
  • Move woodpiles and propane tanks at least 30 feet from the house
  • Use fire-resistant landscaping materials near the foundation

Stay Informed

Sign up for your county's emergency alert system to receive evacuation notifications directly to your phone. Key resources include:

  • Washington: Alert.wa.gov for enrollment in the state emergency alert network
  • Oregon: OregonAlert.gov for emergency notifications by county
  • Idaho: ReadyIdaho.dhs.idaho.gov
  • AirNow.gov for real-time air quality and smoke tracking
  • InciWeb.wildfire.gov for official fire incident information

The Chelan Hills, Claremont, and Ryegrass Coulee fires of early July 2026 demonstrated that fires can reach communities in hours. The time to prepare is now, while skies are clear and roads are open.