The Shingle Fire burning 14 miles southeast of Mitchell, Oregon has grown to 66,299 acres with just 10 percent containment, forcing widespread evacuations across Wheeler County and prompting emergency closures of the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

Started by lightning on July 23, 2026, the fire has rapidly expanded through brush and grass fuels on Oregon Department of Forestry-managed lands in the Fossil Unit. Wind-driven runs, single-tree torching, and short-range spotting have characterized fire behavior throughout the incident, making control work dangerous and difficult.

Evacuations Across Wheeler County

Evacuation orders are in place across much of the Shingle Fire area, with Level 3 "Go Now" orders issued for areas near Sheep Rock south of Picture Gorge. The Thomas Condon Visitor Center at John Day Fossil Beds is under a Level 2 "Be Ready" evacuation notice, and the Sheep Rock Unit has been placed under emergency closure for public safety.

Additional Level 2 and Level 3 evacuation orders have been issued for numerous properties in the fire area, with emergency fire closures expanded across the Ochoco National Forest. All lands, roads, and trails within the designated closure boundary are restricted from public access until further notice.

Fire Resources and Management

The Shingle Fire is being managed by the Great Basin Incident Management Team 5 (GB Team 5), one of several national teams currently deployed to Oregon. The incident's fire information line is 541-906-8928, and updates are available at 2026.Shingle@firenet.gov and centraloregonfire.org.

Smoke from the Shingle Fire has been visible in Prineville, Dayville, Mitchell, and surrounding communities, reducing visibility and contributing to unhealthy air quality across the region. Residents are advised to monitor air quality at fire.airnow.gov for current conditions and smoke forecasts.

Historic Site at Risk

The closure of the Sheep Rock Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument marks a significant moment for one of the Pacific Northwest's most visited paleontological sites. The monument, known for its spectacular painted hills and exceptional fossil record of ancient mammals, has been forced to suspend visitor access as crews work to protect the area from approaching fire.

The National Park Service is monitoring the situation and coordinating with Oregon DOF and cooperating agencies to protect monument resources. No damage to monument facilities or fossil sites has been reported as of August 1.

A Difficult Fire Year for Central Oregon

The Shingle Fire is one of dozens of large fires burning simultaneously across central and eastern Oregon this summer. The region's drought-stressed fuels, limited firefighting resources spread thin across multiple incidents, and persistent high temperatures and low humidity have made 2026 the most challenging fire season Oregon has faced in its recorded history.

  • Evacuations are in effect across much of the Wheeler County fire area
  • Level 3 orders apply south of Picture Gorge at the Sheep Rock Unit
  • Ochoco National Forest emergency closure is in effect
  • John Day Fossil Beds Sheep Rock Unit is closed to the public
  • Fire information: 541-906-8928 | centraloregonfire.org
  • Air quality information: fire.airnow.gov

Residents in Wheeler, Grant, and Crook counties should monitor official emergency management channels closely as extreme fire weather conditions this weekend could drive significant growth on the Shingle Fire and neighboring incidents.