Oregon's 2026 wildfire season arrived with a stark warning last weekend when fast-moving flames erupted along the Interstate 84 corridor near Biggs Junction in Sherman County, forcing the temporary closure of one of the Northwest's most-traveled transportation routes and triggering evacuation notices across the Columbia River in Washington state.
The fire broke out Saturday afternoon near milepost 105 east of Biggs Junction, rapidly spreading through dry roadside grasses and shrubs. Smoke drifted quickly across the highway, creating near-zero visibility for drivers and prompting state and county emergency crews to shut down all lanes in both directions. Multiple vehicle crashes were reported during the closure as conditions deteriorated without warning. By Saturday evening, traffic had been allowed to resume, but the incident underscored how early in the calendar year dangerous fire conditions have arrived in 2026.
Across the Columbia River, Washington state crews were simultaneously battling the Country Meadows Fire in Benton County near Kennewick, which burned an estimated 250 acres through dry grasslands north of the river corridor. The blaze was reported burning out of control for several hours as gusty winds pushed flames through rangeland parched by one of the driest springs on record for the region.
Columbia Hills and Horsethief Park Also Threatened
Additional brush fires ignited near Dallesport and Columbia Hills State Park on the Washington side of the Gorge, prompting evacuation notices for portions of Horsethief Lake State Park as crews worked to contain flames being pushed by shifting winds. Emergency responders requested public cooperation throughout the incidents, warning travelers and drone operators to stay clear of active firefighting zones.
Washington Department of Natural Resources and Klickitat County emergency personnel coordinated response across multiple simultaneous ignitions, deploying engine crews and air resources to prioritize structure protection near the park and residential areas in the area.
An Early and Ominous Opening
For fire managers across the Pacific Northwest, the timing of last weekend's fires is what stands out most. The Columbia Gorge corridor — a natural wind tunnel running between the Cascade Mountains and the high desert — has historically been one of the region's most fire-prone zones in late summer and early fall. Seeing coordinated ignitions and highway-impacting smoke events in late May reflects the consequences of an unusually warm, dry winter and spring across the entire Northwest.
The Oregon Department of Forestry has documented multiple wildfires in the state already in 2026, including the 43-acre Trout Creek Fire near Sisters in early May. State and federal officials have been warning for weeks that drought conditions, depleted snowpack, and above-normal temperatures are compressing what used to be a mid-summer fire season into a year-round threat.
Wildfire officials continue urging residents across Oregon and Washington to prepare now. Emergency managers recommend maintaining evacuation plans, preparing emergency supply kits, monitoring air quality, and signing up for local emergency alert systems well before peak fire season intensifies further.