Oregon and Washington Wildfires Surpass 1 Million Acres Burned
Oregon and Washington have experienced a devastating wildfire season, with over 1,322,187 acres burned as of July 26, 2026, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC). This figure exceeds the 10-year average for the entire year and is significantly higher than last year's total of 570,000 acres. The rapid escalation in wildfire activity is attributed to frequent dry lightning and abnormally dry vegetation caused by a record snow drought last winter. Major fires include the Rowe Creek Complex in Fossil, Oregon, which has burned over 208,000 acres, and the Bench & Beachcomb fire in Warm Springs, Oregon, which remains uncontained. Smoke from these fires has led to unhealthy air quality levels in areas east of the Cascades, including La Grande, John Day, and Burns.