As of Sunday, August 9, Oregon is experiencing a record-setting wildfire season, with most of the largest fires concentrated in eastern and central Oregon.
How many fires are burning?
The National Interagency Coordination Center lists 23 active large-fire incidents in Oregon, covering approximately 1.82 million acres. That figure represents acreage within fires still included in the federal active-incident report—not everything that has burned this year.
As of August 3, the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center had recorded 60 large fires in Oregon during 2026. Smaller fires are not included in that number. A “large fire” generally means at least 100 acres in timber or 300 acres in grass or rangeland. National Interagency Coordination Center report
Oregon’s largest active fires
| Fire | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Grass Fire | Southwest of Jordan Valley | 504,385 | 39% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | South of Fossil | 367,847 | 79% |
| Coleman Creek Fire | East of Juntura | 308,721 | 89% |
| Second Flat Fire | Northeast of Riley | 105,501 | 86% |
| Fox Fire | Northeast of Huntington | 79,002 | 63% |
| Bald Mountain Fire | Southeast of Burns | 76,160 | 78% |
| Shingle Fire | Southeast of Mitchell | 73,092 | 74% |
| Bench Fire | South of Warm Springs | 67,071 | 86% |
| Grasshopper Fire | East of Government Camp | 54,223 | 23% |
The Big Grass Fire is currently Oregon’s largest, growing by more than 62,000 acres in the latest reporting period. Active fire behavior, evacuations and threats to structures and infrastructure remain in effect.
The Rowe Creek Complex is threatening communities and infrastructure across portions of Wheeler, Crook, Jefferson and Wasco counties. Highway 26 remains closed through part of the fire area, while a Red Cross shelter is operating in Prineville. Oregon State Fire Marshal update
How does 2026 compare with Oregon’s worst season?
The previous statewide record was set in 2024, when approximately 2.08 million acres burned in 1,956 fires. That season exceeded 2020 in total acreage, although the 2020 Labor Day fires were far more destructive to communities, killing nine people and destroying approximately 5,000 structures.
Current statewide reporting indicates that more than 2.2 million acres have already burned in Oregon during 2026, meaning this year has apparently surpassed the 2024 acreage record—with several months of potential fire season remaining.
The comparison requires some caution because the 1.82-million-acre federal active-fire total excludes fires that are no longer active, while the statewide season total includes both active and previously contained fires.
The clearest conclusion is that 2026 is now Oregon’s largest wildfire season on record by acreage, but it has not approached the catastrophic loss of life and homes experienced during the 2020 Labor Day fires. Oregon’s official 2024 comparison.
