Rowe Creek Complex and Grasshopper Fire Drive Oregon's Record-Breaking 2026 Season

Oregon is in the midst of its worst wildfire season in recorded history, with two headline fires — the Rowe Creek Complex in central Oregon and the Grasshopper Fire east of Mount Hood — leading a field of 48 active wildfires that have collectively burned more than 1.59 million acres as of early August 2026. The Oregon Department of Forestry has counted more than 1,300 fires statewide so far this year.

Rowe Creek Complex: Oregon's Largest Active Fire

The Rowe Creek Complex is the largest fire currently burning in Oregon and one of the most complex suppression operations in the state's history. The fire is located in central Oregon near Prineville in Crook County and has threatened homes in Prineville and the community of Grizzly, as well as critical electrical transmission infrastructure serving a large portion of central Oregon.

The complexity of the fire — involving multiple individual fires managed as a complex under a single Incident Management Team — has required significant multi-agency coordination. FEMA authorized a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Rowe Creek Complex, which will reimburse up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs. Evacuation orders and warnings have been in effect for multiple communities within the fire's potential spread zone.

Grasshopper Fire Burns Historic Lookout

The Grasshopper Fire, located east of Mount Hood in Hood River and Wasco counties, grew explosively to 30,000 acres on August 2, 2026, driven by the same extreme weather pattern that fueled fire runs across the region. The fire burned and destroyed an iconic historic fire lookout — one of the Pacific Northwest's beloved landmarks — drawing attention from the broader outdoor and hiking community.

The Mount Hood National Forest has implemented road and trail closures in the area, and smoke from the Grasshopper Fire has been visible from the Portland metro area on multiple days this week. Evacuation notices have been issued for rural communities in the fire's vicinity.

Dry Thunderstorms Pose New Ignition Risk

Meteorologists with the Oregon Department of Forestry and the National Weather Service have flagged a significant concern for the coming days: dry thunderstorms are expected to develop across central Oregon, bringing abundant lightning with little to no rainfall. Under the current critically dry fuel conditions — with relative humidity as low as 13 percent in some areas and sustained winds of 15 to 30 mph — any new lightning ignition has the potential to become a rapidly growing fire.

Oregon ODF officials have issued a public awareness statement urging residents to avoid any fire-starting activities, including debris burning, power equipment use in dry grass, and off-road vehicle use in fire-prone terrain.

North-Central and Eastern Oregon: Multiple Active Fronts

Beyond Rowe Creek and the Grasshopper, multiple large fires are active across north-central and eastern Oregon as of August 6-7. IQAir USA reporting identifies a broad zone of fire activity spanning from the Columbia River basin south through the high desert of Malheur County. Evacuation orders range from Level 1 to Level 3 across portions of Crook, Jefferson, Grant, Harney, Lake, and Malheur counties.

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management maintains real-time evacuation zone maps and fire information at their official website. Residents in rural eastern Oregon are advised to maintain awareness of fire activity in their county and to have a ready Go Kit with critical documents, medications, and supplies for 72 hours.

Record Context