More than three dozen active wildfires are currently burning across Oregon and Washington, marking what fire managers are calling an unusually aggressive start to the peak of fire season. Lightning storms moving through the region over the past two weeks have been the dominant driver of new ignitions, sparking fires across eastern Oregon, central Oregon, northeastern Washington, and the Okanogan Highlands.

The Scope of the Outbreak

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reports that as of Sunday, July 19, 78 large fires are burning nationwide, with the Pacific Northwest bearing a disproportionate share of the activity. The Northwest Coordination Center (NWCC) is currently managing resources at an elevated preparedness level, with multiple Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Management Teams committed across the region.

What makes this outbreak unusual is the geographic spread. Fires are not concentrated in a single region but are scattered across Baker County, Grant County, Wheeler County, Umatilla County, and Jackson County in Oregon — and Okanogan County and northeastern Washington. This breadth strains mutual aid agreements and limits the ability to move resources from one incident to another.

Oregon: The Hardest-Hit State

Oregon is managing the largest number of simultaneous large-fire incidents. Key active fires include:

  • Kaiser Canyon Fire — Okanogan County, WA: ~60,486 acres, 0% contained
  • Salmon Fire / Olive Butte Fire — Baker/Grant Counties, OR: 1,495 and 2,747 acres respectively, each 15% contained
  • Lower Dry Creek Fire — Umatilla County, OR: ~6,753–7,000 acres, 0–5% contained
  • East Evans Creek Fire — Jackson County, OR: ~13,090 acres, growing
  • Rowe Creek Complex (Crosswhite, Camel Hump, Redrock fires) — Wheeler County, OR: Crosswhite alone exceeds 13,883 acres

Why Fuels Are So Dangerous Right Now

NIFC analysts note that vegetation moisture levels across much of the Pacific Northwest are at or below mid-August norms — weeks ahead of schedule. A relatively dry spring followed by persistent heat and low relative humidity has cured fine fuels early, creating explosive fire conditions when ignitions occur. Coupled with convective thunderstorm activity generating dry lightning, conditions are among the most challenging fire managers have seen in years during mid-July.

What Residents Should Know

With fires scattered across such a large area, residents throughout eastern Oregon and eastern Washington should remain vigilant regardless of whether a fire is currently nearby. Sign up for emergency alerts through your county sheriff or emergency management office, know your evacuation routes, and have a go-bag ready. Fire behavior can shift rapidly in current conditions, and evacuation levels have been upgraded on short notice at multiple incidents this week.

For up-to-date maps and incident information, visit InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov or the Northwest Coordination Center at gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc.