The first significant wildfire disruptions of Oregon's 2026 fire season erupted this past weekend along the Interstate 84 corridor near Biggs Junction, delivering an early and sobering reminder that the region's fire season no longer waits for summer to arrive.
A fast-moving fire broke out Saturday afternoon in Sherman County near milepost 105 east of Biggs Junction, quickly generating dangerous smoke conditions across the Columbia Gorge. Authorities temporarily shut down all lanes of Interstate 84 as visibility deteriorated. Multiple vehicle crashes were reported during the closure before traffic was allowed to resume by Saturday evening.
Country Meadows Fire Burns 250 Acres in Benton County
Nearly simultaneously, firefighters across the Columbia River in Washington state battled the Country Meadows Fire in Benton County near Kennewick. The blaze scorched an estimated 250 acres of dry grassland north of the river corridor and was reported burning out of control during afternoon hours as winds shifted and spread flames rapidly.
Horsethief Park Evacuations Issued
Additional brush fires ignited near Dallesport and Columbia Hills State Park on the Washington side of the Gorge. Emergency managers issued evacuation notices for portions of Horsethief Park as crews worked to contain flames being pushed by shifting winds. Emergency responders urged travelers and drone operators to stay clear of active firefighting zones throughout the incident.
A Warning Sign for the Season Ahead
For many Pacific Northwest residents, the incidents recalled the wildfires that transformed the Columbia Gorge and Eastern Oregon into smoke-filled emergency corridors in past fire seasons. While this weekend's fires remained comparatively limited in scale, they exposed how dry vegetation, gusty winds, and warming temperatures are already creating conditions that can support rapid fire growth across parts of the region — weeks before peak fire season.
Oregon's 2026 winter was one of the warmest on record dating back to the 1890s, and the state recorded its smallest snowpack ever by some historical measures. State Climatologist Larry O'Neill has noted there is "no historical equivalent" for how poor this past winter was for snow accumulation. That deficit in snowpack has accelerated fuel drying across low and mid-elevation landscapes throughout the PNW.
Residents throughout the Columbia Gorge corridor and Eastern Oregon and Washington are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts through their county, review their evacuation plans, and monitor conditions closely as the season progresses.