Oregon and Washington Wildfire Preparedness Guide: What Every Resident Needs to Know This Fire Season

The 2026 wildfire season has made clear that fire is no longer a distant threat for Pacific Northwest residents. Communities from the Cascades foothills to the high desert and the forested valleys of north-central Washington are all within range of fires that can travel miles in a matter of hours. Whether you’re in a high-risk zone right now or simply want to be ready, here’s what every resident should know.

Know Your Evacuation Zone

Oregon and Washington use slightly different systems, but both rely on a three-tier framework:

Level 1 / Ready: Be informed. Fire is in the area. Monitor news and official sources, prepare your go-bag and important documents, and know your exit route.
Level 2 / Set: Be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. If you have pets, livestock, or mobility needs, leave now — don’t wait for Level 3.
Level 3 / Go!: Leave immediately. Do not attempt to gather additional belongings. Every second matters.

Find your zone now at your county’s emergency management website — before you need it. Sign up for your county’s emergency alert system (Nixle, AlertSense, Everbridge, or similar) to receive evacuation notices by phone and text.

Build Your Go-Bag

A well-prepared go-bag can make the difference when you have minutes to leave. Include:

Copies of important documents (ID, insurance, medications list, property records)
Phone charger and portable battery
Minimum 72-hour supply of medications
Water (1 gallon per person per day for 3 days) and non-perishable food
N95 masks (protect against wildfire smoke)
Cash in small bills
First aid kit
Pet supplies, carrier, vaccination records
Change of clothes and sturdy shoes
Flashlight and extra batteries

Create Defensible Space

If you live in a fire-prone area, defensible space is one of the most important investments you can make. Oregon and Washington both recommend:

Zone 1 (0–30 feet from structures): Keep grass short and green. Remove dead plants and leaves. Create separation between trees and shrubs. Move woodpiles away from structures.
Zone 2 (30–100 feet from structures): Thin trees and shrubs to reduce fuel continuity. Remove dead branches and keep them off the ground. Mow grasses below 4 inches.
Roof and gutters: Clean out leaves and debris. Screen vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh to block embers.
Ember-resistant windows and vents are the single most effective home hardening measure against wildfire.

Stay Informed

During an active fire event, reliable information is critical:

InciWeb: inciweb.wildfire.gov — official incident updates and maps
NW FireWatch: nwfirewatch.com — regional news and incident summaries
AirNow: airnow.gov — real-time air quality index
Oregon Smoke: oregonsmoke.org — Oregon-specific smoke forecasts
NIFC: nifc.gov — national fire statistics and preparedness level
Local scanner apps — monitor fire department and emergency management radio traffic in your area

Livestock and Large Animals

Evacuating with horses, cattle, or other livestock requires advance planning. Identify livestock trailers in your network now. Know your fairgrounds, rodeo arenas, and county fairgrounds that serve as animal evacuation staging areas. Have your animals’ records, feed, and identification ready to go.

Don’t wait until Level 3 to move large animals — move at Level 2 or earlier. Horses especially should be evacuated early; they are extremely difficult and dangerous to load under panic conditions.