Critical fire weather conditions are in effect across much of the inland Pacific Northwest today, Saturday July 25, with Red Flag Warnings expanding to cover all of eastern Oregon and Washington — the most widespread fire weather alert of the 2026 season to date. Residents in affected areas are urged to avoid any outdoor burning and to report smoke or fire immediately by calling 911.

Today’s Red Flag Warning

The National Weather Service office in Pendleton, Oregon, issued a Red Flag Warning beginning Thursday and running through Saturday, July 25, at 8:00 PM PDT. The warning area covers a large swath of central and eastern Oregon and portions of central Washington, driven by three key ingredients:

  • Gusty southwest to west winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph possible across Eastern Washington
  • Very low relative humidity, falling to single digits over ridges and exposed slopes
  • Bone-dry fuels following one of the hottest and driest Julys on record for the inland Northwest

On Saturday, the warning area expands significantly, enveloping all of eastern Oregon and Washington and extending into northeast California, northwest Nevada, north Idaho, and western Montana. NWS Pendleton stated that “any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly” and that outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.

Lightning Remains a Concern

Gusty outflow winds from isolated thunderstorms are expected to develop across the Central Idaho Mountains and parts of the Northern Rockies through the weekend. These storms bring a dual threat: dry lightning that can ignite new fires in already-stressed fuels, and sudden, sharp wind shifts on existing fire perimeters that can cause rapid and unpredictable fire behavior. The Northwest Geographic Area is already dealing with the aftermath of a mid-July lightning event that triggered dozens of new ignitions.

The Bigger Picture: Record-Setting Fuels

Fire weather meteorologists with the NIFC note that fuels across the PNW are at historically high receptivity to ignition. A low snowpack winter, a dry spring, and a string of above-normal temperature events have left grass, shrub, and timber fuels primed to carry fire at rates not commonly seen until August or September. The current pattern — high pressure holding across the interior West, with periodic thunderstorm activity — is expected to persist through at least the end of July.

Slightly cooler temperatures are expected to arrive Sunday, offering some relief, but fire managers caution that wind will remain an issue and that cooler temperatures alone will not reduce the significant risk across the region.

What to Do

  • Do not burn debris, use fireworks, or operate equipment that could produce sparks outdoors.
  • Park vehicles on pavement, not on dry grass.
  • Ensure chains on trailers are secured so they cannot drag and spark.
  • Report any fire, no matter how small, by calling 911 immediately.