Meteorologists have issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning for large portions of eastern Washington and northeastern Oregon — the first such designation in the Pacific Northwest since September 2020. The warning, reserved only for the most extreme combinations of fire weather conditions, reflects an unprecedented threat level for a region already struggling under the weight of dozens of active large fires.

A dry cold front moving through the region this weekend is expected to produce wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph across the Inland Northwest, with minimum relative humidity plummeting to 5 to 25 percent. These conditions create what fire weather forecasters call an "extremely critical" fire environment — one where existing fires can grow explosively and new ignitions are virtually impossible to control in their early stages.

What Makes a PDS Different

The PDS Red Flag Warning designation sits above a standard Red Flag Warning in terms of severity. The National Weather Service issues it only when multiple fire weather parameters simultaneously reach extreme thresholds — typically requiring exceptionally strong winds, record low humidity, critically dry fuels, and a high probability of widespread fire weather conditions. In the Pacific Northwest, these events are rare even by the standards of recent historically active fire seasons.

The last PDS Red Flag Warning in this region was issued in September 2020, during a catastrophic outbreak that resulted in the Labor Day fires — a series of fast-moving blazes that killed people and destroyed entire communities across Oregon and Washington in a single day. Fire officials and emergency managers have been referencing that event as a benchmark for what the current setup could produce.

Areas Under the Warning

The PDS Red Flag Warning covers large portions of eastern Washington and northeastern Oregon, where dozens of large fires are already burning with minimal containment. Areas particularly at risk include:

  • The Okanogan Highlands and Methow Valley (Chelan, Okanogan, Ferry counties, WA)
  • The Columbia Basin and Palouse (Grant, Lincoln, Whitman, Spokane counties, WA)
  • Northeastern Oregon including Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Morrow counties
  • North-central Oregon including Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties

Standard Red Flag Warnings (without the PDS designation) are in effect across a much broader area including central Oregon, the Oregon Cascades east slopes, and portions of Idaho.

Utility Companies Taking Action

Pacific Power and Portland General Electric (PGE) have activated Public Safety Power Shutoff protocols for portions of eastern Oregon in response to extreme fire weather, similar to procedures used in California during high-wind events. Utility customers in affected areas should prepare for potential power interruptions and check with their utility provider for specific shutdown zones.

What the Public Must Do Now

  • Do not start any fire — campfires, burn piles, and outdoor burning are prohibited across most of the affected area
  • Avoid target shooting and any activity that creates sparks
  • Do not drive over dry grass with a hot exhaust system
  • Know your evacuation level and route before the wind arrives
  • Charge phones and electronics now in case of power outages
  • If you see a new fire, call 911 immediately — do not wait

Fire officials and emergency managers are treating this wind event as one of the most serious threats of the 2026 fire season. With dozens of fires already burning at low containment across the region, any new ignitions this weekend have the potential to grow rapidly into major incidents threatening lives and structures. Residents east of the Cascades should be on heightened alert from Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening as conditions reach their peak.