Flames in the Gorge: Oregon's 2026 Wildfire Season Roars to Life Along I-84

Oregon's 2026 wildfire season announced itself with an early and unsettling jolt this Memorial Day weekend as fast-moving flames erupted along the Interstate 84 corridor near Biggs Junction in Sherman County, forcing the temporary closure of one of the Pacific Northwest's most critical transportation arteries and raising alarms about the summer ahead.

Fire Shuts Down I-84 Near Biggs Junction

The fire broke out Saturday afternoon near milepost 105 east of Biggs Junction, spreading rapidly through dry grass and roadside brush as gusty winds pushed flames toward the highway. Heavy smoke quickly enveloped the corridor, creating near-zero visibility conditions for motorists. Oregon transportation and emergency officials shut down all lanes of Interstate 84 while crews mobilized to contain the blaze. Multiple vehicle collisions were reported during the closure as drivers encountered sudden wall-to-wall smoke.

By Saturday evening, the interstate had reopened, but the incident underscored how quickly fire conditions along Oregon's eastern highway corridors can turn dangerous — not just for communities, but for travelers caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Country Meadows Fire Burns 250 Acres in Washington

Across the Columbia River in Washington state, firefighters in Benton County were simultaneously battling the Country Meadows Fire near Kennewick, which scorched an estimated 250 acres of dry grassland north of the river corridor. The blaze burned out of control for a period during Saturday afternoon before crews were able to establish containment lines.

Additional brush fires were reported near Dallesport and Columbia Hills State Park on the Washington side of the Gorge, prompting evacuation notices for portions of Horsethief Park as shifting winds complicated firefighting efforts. Drone operators and members of the public were urged to stay clear of active firefighting zones.

The Timing Is What Stands Out

What alarms fire officials most is not the size of these fires, which remained relatively modest compared to major summer blazes of recent years, but rather how early they arrived. State and federal agencies have been warning for weeks that the combination of a warmer, drier-than-normal winter, below-average snowpack, and an early onset of hot, low-humidity weather has left grass, brush, and forest fuels across the Northwest unusually vulnerable heading into the summer months.

"We are increasingly concerned that 2026 could rival the most extreme years on record for heat and dryness in the Pacific Northwest," said Jeff Fedrizzi, a fire official quoted in statements accompanying new BLM fire restrictions issued earlier this month.

Southern Oregon Already on Alert

Portions of Jackson and Josephine counties in Southern Oregon have already entered seasonal fire restrictions as agencies work to reduce human-caused ignitions before conditions fully intensify. The gorge fires serve as a preview of the risk that roadside ignitions — from dragging trailer chains, equipment sparks, cigarettes, and other sources — pose throughout the dry months ahead.

What Travelers and Residents Should Know

Monitor road and smoke conditions along I-84, especially east of the Cascades, before travel.
Avoid parking vehicles on dry grass — catalytic converters can ignite vegetation instantly.
Check equipment and trailer chains before any trip through fire-prone corridors.
Sign up for local emergency alerts through your county sheriff's office or Oregon's Alert Oregon system.
Have an evacuation plan and emergency kit ready before you need them.