September is National Preparedness Month, and wildland fire agencies across the Pacific Northwest are urging residents to use the current cooler weather window to build or refresh their wildfire preparedness plans. After a summer that produced some of the most destructive fires in regional history — from the Spokane Complex to the Rowe Creek Complex — emergency managers say preparedness can mean the difference between life and death when the next fire arrives.

The Stakes in 2026

The 2026 wildfire season has driven home just how quickly conditions can change. The Spokane Complex — which destroyed or damaged at least 600 structures — ignited and expanded to over 7,700 acres in a matter of hours under Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning conditions on August 1. Residents who had prepared go-bags, knew their evacuation routes, and were signed up for emergency alerts were far better positioned to leave quickly and safely.

Oregon's Rowe Creek Complex grew to nearly 374,000 acres, and Washington's Little Giant Fire surpassed 170,000 acres — fires of a scale that overwhelm local resources and require regional and national mobilization. Evacuation orders, road closures, and area closures can be issued with little notice.

Five Steps to Wildfire Preparedness

  • 1. Create defensible space. Clear vegetation within 30 feet of your home, and thin trees and shrubs out to 100 feet. Remove dead fuels, debris, and anything flammable from your roof and gutters.
  • 2. Harden your home. Install ember-resistant vents, use non-combustible roofing materials, and replace wood decks with composite or metal alternatives. Embers can travel miles ahead of a fire and ignite structures far from the flame front.
  • 3. Build a go-bag. Pack medications, important documents, water, food, a change of clothes, and phone chargers. Keep it near the door and ready to grab in minutes.
  • 4. Know your evacuation route — and a backup. Drive your planned evacuation route before an emergency. Identify at least two ways out of your neighborhood. Don't wait for a Level 3 evacuation order if conditions look dangerous — leave early.
  • 5. Sign up for alerts. Register for your county's emergency alert system (CodeRED, Wireless Emergency Alerts, or similar). Monitor oregonsmoke.org, airnow.gov, and your local fire agency social media pages during fire season.

Resources for PNW Residents

Several free resources are available to help Pacific Northwest residents reduce their wildfire risk:

  • Firewise USA (nfpa.org/firewise-usa) — free resources from the National Fire Prevention Association for community-level wildfire risk reduction
  • Oregon Office of Emergency Management (oregon.gov/oem) — evacuation zones, alerts, and preparedness guides
  • Washington State Department of Natural Resources (dnr.wa.gov) — fire information, defensible space resources
  • InciWeb (inciweb.wildfire.gov) — real-time incident information for all active large fires
  • Ready.gov — federal preparedness guidance including wildfire-specific resources

Fire season in the Pacific Northwest typically extends through October, and a return to hot, dry, and windy conditions is always possible. Use this window to prepare — the next fire won't wait for you to be ready.