Oregon's 2026 wildfire season made its presence felt along one of the Pacific Northwest's most traveled corridors last weekend, when fast-moving fires near Biggs Junction forced the temporary closure of Interstate 84 and triggered evacuation notices on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.
The fire broke out Saturday afternoon in Sherman County near milepost 105 east of Biggs Junction, quickly generating heavy smoke that drifted across the highway and the surrounding Gorge landscape. Authorities shut down all lanes of I-84 while emergency crews responded to the growing incident. Multiple vehicle crashes were reported during the closure as smoke conditions rapidly deteriorated.
By Saturday evening, traffic had reopened, but the incident left a clear message: the 2026 fire season is not waiting for summer to arrive.
Washington Side Also Impacted
Across the Columbia River in Washington state, firefighters battled a separate wildfire near Kennewick that burned an estimated 250 acres in Benton County. The Country Meadows Fire moved through dry grasslands north of the river corridor during the afternoon hours.
Additional brush fires were also reported near Dallesport and Columbia Hills State Park on the Washington side of the Gorge, prompting evacuation notices for portions of Horsethief Park as crews worked to contain flames pushed by shifting winds. Emergency responders requested that the public and drone operators stay clear of active firefighting zones throughout the incident.
An Early-Season Warning
Fire agencies note that the timing of these incidents is what stands out most. Normally, fire season along the Columbia Gorge corridor doesn't peak until July and August, when east winds intensify and relative humidity drops dramatically. That late-May fires of this intensity occurred signals that fuels are already in a critically dry state.
State and federal wildfire officials have been warning for weeks that warmer and drier conditions this winter left grasses, brush, and forest fuels unusually vulnerable heading into 2026. In Southern Oregon, portions of Jackson and Josephine counties have already implemented seasonal restrictions tied to wildfire prevention as agencies attempt to reduce human-caused ignitions before summer intensifies.
Highway Corridor Fire Risk
Fires igniting along transportation corridors have become an increasing danger throughout Oregon and Washington because they can spread rapidly through roadside grasses while simultaneously creating life-threatening visibility hazards for travelers. The I-84 closure near Biggs Junction highlighted how quickly smoke from a roadside fire can shut down major infrastructure.
Motorists traveling Highway 14 along the Washington side of the Gorge and Interstate 84 through the Columbia River Gorge should remain alert for sudden smoke events and closures throughout the summer. ODF and Washington DNR urge the public to report fires immediately by calling 9-1-1.