As the calendar turns to late September, Oregon is taking stock of a wildfire season that has shattered every historical record in the books. More than 2.5 million acres have burned across the state — an area larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined — and fire managers are cautiously transitioning major incidents back to local agencies as conditions improve.

A Season for the Record Books

Oregon's 2026 fire season is officially the largest on record, eclipsing previous highs set in 2020 and 2024. More than 1,400 fires have burned statewide, with the bulk of the acreage concentrated in eastern and central Oregon during the July–September peak. The season's single largest fire, the Big Grass Fire on the Oregon-Idaho border near Jordan Valley, burned approximately 579,000 acres before reaching 94 percent containment by early September — briefly holding the distinction of the largest single wildfire in Oregon history.

Rowe Creek Complex Transitions to Local Agencies

One of the most significant milestones of the late-season wind-down came September 25, when Oregon Department of Forestry's Complex Incident Management Team 1 formally transitioned management of the Rowe Creek Complex — along with the Shingle, Henry, Coyote, and associated fires — back to local land management agencies. The Rowe Creek Complex burned 373,927 acres across Crook and Jefferson counties and had been one of the highest-priority incidents in the state for weeks.

The transition reflects improved containment and favorable weather that has cooled fire behavior across much of central Oregon.

Still Active: Grasshopper, Hagen, and Austin Fires

Several significant fires remain active on InciWeb as of September 29:

  • Grasshopper Fire (Wasco County, Mt. Hood National Forest) — 93,971 acres. The fire burned more than 86,000 acres at its peak in August, destroying six homes and forcing the cancellation of the Wasco County Fair. It is now approximately 93–97 percent contained, with some forest closures still in effect.
  • Hagen Fire (Umatilla County) — 61,380 acres. The Hagen Fire has been one of the more stubborn incidents of the season, reaching only 11 percent containment in mid-August and continuing to challenge crews through September.
  • Austin Fire (Mt. Hood National Forest area) — 12,884 acres, with active containment work ongoing.

Human Cost

The 2026 season has exacted a human toll. At least two Oregonians lost their lives, including contractor Jason Ensign, who was killed August 6 while operating a dozer on the Wrights Spring Fire in Klamath County. Governor Tina Kotek ordered flags lowered statewide in his honor. Evacuation orders have touched Baker, Clackamas, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jefferson, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wheeler, and Wasco counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

What's Next

With fall precipitation beginning to arrive, fire managers expect continued improvement in conditions. However, the Oregon Department of Forestry cautions that until significant rainfall arrives and persists, remaining fires can still pose risks — particularly in areas with heavy fuel loads and damaged timber. Full demobilization of major incident teams is expected to continue through October.