Oregon is in the grip of the most destructive wildfire season in state history. As of August 27, more than 2,533,782 acres have burned across the state — a total that has officially surpassed Oregon's previous all-time record set during the 2024 season. Thirty-eight active wildfires remain on the landscape, driven by prolonged heat, critically dry vegetation, and repeated lightning strikes.

While firefighters have made meaningful containment progress on many of the largest blazes, dangerous fire weather and parched fuel conditions continue to threaten communities across north-central, eastern, and southern Oregon. National, state, and local resources are heavily committed across multiple geographic areas simultaneously.

Key Active Fires in Oregon

  • Big Grass Fire (578,637 acres, 93% contained) — Located 25 miles southwest of Jordan Valley along the Oregon-Idaho border, this lightning-caused fire is the largest in the state. Crews remain focused on extinguishing pockets of interior heat as occasional winds carry embers past established fire lines.
  • Rowe Creek Complex (373,927 acres, 93% contained) — Burning 10 miles south of Fossil in Central Oregon, this lightning-caused fire is fueled by tall grass, timber, and brush. California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 assumed command on August 27. Crews are conducting mop-up, hazard tree removal, and erosion mitigation on dozer lines.
  • Crosswhite Fire (342,923 acres, 91% contained) — Located in Wheeler County, this massive fire continues active mop-up operations.
  • Grasshopper Fire (93,841 acres, 76% contained) — Burning across Clackamas, Hood River, and Wasco counties in the Mt. Hood National Forest, this lightning-caused fire continues to threaten local communities and recreation areas. Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders remain in effect for surrounding zones.
  • Hagen Fire (60,372 acres, 33% contained) — Located in Umatilla County south of Bingham Road, the Hagen Fire remains a high priority for active suppression with less than a third contained.
  • Wrights Spring Fire (55,133 acres, 65% contained) — Burning in Klamath County with multiple evacuation orders still in place.

Fire Restrictions and Land Management

With extreme fire danger persisting, prescribed burning has been halted statewide. The Oregon Department of Forestry's Southwest Oregon District has raised the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) to Level 3, its highest designation. Strict campfire bans are in effect across the Mt. Hood National Forest, and all recreation in affected areas of the Ochoco National Forest is closed due to hazard trees weakened by fire.

Chipping operations and fuel-reduction work are concluding along Oregon Route 207 in the Rowe Creek Complex area to stabilize burned slopes heading into fall.

What's Next

A slight temperature dip is forecast for the weekend, but forecasters warn this cooldown coincides with renewed dry lightning risk in the Cascades — an area where critically dry timber and brush could easily ignite from new strikes. Red Flag Warnings have been issued for northeast Oregon, where outflow winds near thunderstorms could gust up to 40 mph.

Residents in affected areas are urged to maintain emergency evacuation plans, monitor local alerts, and clear defensible space around structures. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management urges all residents to know their evacuation level and leave immediately if a Level 3 Go Now order is issued.