More than three dozen active wildfires are burning simultaneously across Oregon and Washington as of Wednesday, July 22, 2026 — a level of concurrent fire activity that has tested both states' emergency response systems and depleted statewide mutual aid resources. The outbreak marks what fire managers describe as an unusually broad and early peak for the Pacific Northwest fire season.

Scope of the Outbreak

As of the morning of July 22, the National Interagency Fire Center reports Oregon is hosting 19 large fires — more than any other state in the nation — while Washington has 6 active large fires and Idaho is contending with 4. Combined, the Northwest Geographic Area accounts for 27 of the 72 large uncontained fires burning nationally, placing an outsized demand on a regional firefighting infrastructure that is already stretched thin.

Oregon's Governor Tina Kotek has invoked the state's Emergency Conflagration Act five times so far this season, an extraordinary pace that reflects the breadth and speed of new ignitions. The act enables the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS) to draw firefighting resources from across the state to assist local agencies. Oregon has deployed its last available Incident Management Team to active incidents.

Key Active Fires Across the Region

In Oregon, the most serious incidents include:

  • Lower Dry Creek Fire (Umatilla County) — 6,753 acres, 0% contained. More than 1,650 residents under Level 3 "Go Now" and Level 2 "Be Set" orders near Milton-Freewater. Oregon's first FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) of 2026 has been approved for this fire.
  • Brewer Fire (Jefferson County) — approximately 5,000 acres, currently the largest fire in Central Oregon.
  • Crosswhite Fire (Wheeler County) — roughly 4,000 acres, Level 1–3 evacuations in place. Emergency Conflagration Act invoked July 15.
  • East Evans Creek Fire (Jackson County) — 3,600+ acres, Level 3 evacuations near Shady Cove. Human-caused: ignited when a driver struck a power pole.
  • Olive Butte and Salmon Fires (Grant County) — 2,400 and 1,500 acres respectively, both lightning-caused.
  • Lytle Fire (Malheur County) — roughly 2,000 acres, exhibiting extreme fire behavior, Level 3 evacuations near Vale.

In Washington, the most notable current incidents include:

  • Garred Road Fire (Grant County) — approximately 3,500 acres, Level 3 evacuations for the Sun Lakes area. State Fire Mobilization has been authorized as the fire threatens structures, a state park, and wheat fields.
  • Kaiser Canyon Fire (Okanogan County) — about 2,200 acres, Level 3 evacuations near Nespelem.
  • Chelan Hills Fire (Douglas County) — now approximately 50% contained after burning nearly 10,000 acres over the Fourth of July weekend. The fire destroyed numerous structures, killed at least one person, and caused an estimated $9.1 million in damage.

What Is Driving the Outbreak

NIFC's Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory for the Pacific Northwest cites record-low winter snowpack combined with persistent drought as the primary driver. Live and dead fuel moisture levels across the region are tracking roughly a month ahead of schedule — conditions typically seen in mid-August are already present in mid-July. Recent dry lightning has produced efficient new ignitions, and initial attack successes have been offset by rapid fire growth on the fires that escape first response.

"We did anticipate that this fire season was going to be very active," said Oregon State Fire Marshal Public Information Officer Simone Cordery-Cotter. "I think a lot of Oregonians understand that our snowpack levels did not get to the level we usually anticipate over the winter, and we've had abnormally low precipitation across the state."

Looking Ahead

Forecasters are tracking continued hot, dry conditions across the northern Cascades and Northern Rockies through the end of the week. A fresh round of dry lightning is expected over Central and Southern Oregon through Wednesday evening, with forecasters warning that any new ignitions could establish quickly under current fuel conditions. Fire managers are urging the public to avoid all open burning and to exercise extreme caution in forested areas.