Oregon's 2026 wildfire season made an early and dramatic entrance this past weekend when fast-moving fires erupted along the Interstate 84 corridor near Biggs Junction in Sherman County, forcing the temporary closure of one of the Pacific Northwest's busiest transportation routes and delivering an unsettling preview of what fire agencies have been warning residents to expect this summer.

Columbia Gorge Fires Disrupt Travel

The fires broke out Saturday afternoon near milepost 105 east of Biggs Junction, quickly producing heavy smoke that drifted across Interstate 84 and dramatically reduced visibility for drivers. Oregon State Police and transportation officials temporarily shut down all lanes of the interstate while emergency crews responded, and multiple vehicle crashes were reported during the closure as conditions deteriorated rapidly. By Saturday evening, traffic had reopened along the corridor, but the disruption served as a stark reminder of how wildfires increasingly threaten transportation infrastructure in the Columbia River Gorge region.

Washington State Fires Ignite Simultaneously

Across the Columbia River in Washington, firefighters in Benton County were simultaneously battling the Country Meadows Fire near Kennewick, which scorched an estimated 250 acres of dry grasslands north of the river corridor. Additional brush fires were reported near Dallesport and Columbia Hills State Park on the Washington side of the Gorge, with evacuation notices issued for portions of Horsethief Park as crews worked to contain flames driven by shifting winds. Emergency managers requested that the public and drone operators stay well clear of active suppression zones throughout the incident.

Southern Oregon Restrictions Tighten

The fire activity is not limited to the Gorge. In Southern Oregon, portions of Jackson and Josephine counties have already begun implementing seasonal fire restrictions as state agencies work to reduce the risk of human-caused ignitions ahead of peak summer conditions. Fire officials say the timing of this activity — late May, historically a quiet period — reflects the extent to which below-normal snowpack and record warm temperatures this winter have advanced the fire season calendar.

Highway Corridor Fires a Growing Hazard

Fire officials and transportation agencies have noted with increasing concern the role that roadside ignitions play in Pacific Northwest fire activity. Vehicle sparks, dragging trailer chains, and debris fires along highways like Interstate 84 and U.S. 97 can ignite roadside grasses that then spread rapidly toward adjacent wildlands. The Columbia Gorge, with its channeled east winds and dry vegetation east of the Cascades, is particularly vulnerable to this pattern.

Emergency managers across Oregon and Washington are recommending that residents and travelers take the following steps as fire season accelerates:

  • Monitor road conditions in Eastern Oregon and the Columbia Gorge, particularly along I-84, U.S. 97, and U.S. 395
  • Allow extra travel time when smoke is reported in the region
  • Never park vehicles on dry grass or roadside vegetation
  • Report fires immediately by calling 911
  • Sign up for local emergency notification systems before fire activity intensifies

Fire agencies have stressed that the Memorial Day weekend fires, while relatively small compared to historic fire events in the region, came at least two to four weeks earlier than typical for significant transportation corridor disruptions. That timeline has managers on high alert heading into June, when conditions are expected to become more severe.