Oregon’s 2026 wildfire season is in its winding-down phase, with 15 active fires burning across approximately 343,169 acres as of October 11, according to NIFC Wildfire Integrated Geospatial data. The statewide average containment stands at 95%, a sharp improvement from peak-season conditions that pushed multiple fires to critical behavior.

Largest Active Fires in Oregon

  • Second Flat Fire — Harney County, 105,854 acres, 99% contained. Eastern Oregon’s largest active incident, burning in high-desert rangeland.
  • Grasshopper Fire — Wasco County, 93,972 acres, 98% contained. Near the Columbia Plateau, this fire burned grass and scrub habitat during dry August conditions.
  • Hagen Fire — Umatilla County, 61,380 acres, 99% contained. Burning in the Blue Mountains foothills area.
  • Jackass Butte Fire — Harney County, 24,724 acres, 92% contained.
  • Stubble Fire — Harney County, 15,673 acres, 93% contained.
  • McCully Fire — Baker County, 13,604 acres, 91% contained.
  • Austin Fire — Clackamas County, 12,888 acres, 98% contained. Located on the Mt. Hood National Forest, approximately 25 miles southeast of Estacada.
  • Paradise Fire — Wallowa County, 9,656 acres, 86% contained.

Austin Fire: Western Cascades Incident

The Austin Fire on the Mt. Hood National Forest has drawn particular attention as one of the few significant fires burning in the wetter western Cascades this season. Fire managers report that precipitation moved over the fire area in recent days, significantly aiding containment efforts. Forest road and area closures remain in effect in the immediate fire vicinity, though the threat to structures has eased considerably.

The Clackamas County Office of Emergency Management has been coordinating with USFS on public information and access management. Residents of communities south of Estacada should continue to monitor official channels for updates on road reopenings.

A Season-Long View

Oregon’s fire season ran especially hard through August and early September, when east wind events repeatedly drove rapid fire growth in both eastern Oregon rangelands and Cascade foothills. The Grasshopper and Second Flat fires grew quickly during those episodes, prompting temporary evacuation warnings for ranching communities in Wasco and Harney counties respectively.

With cooler temperatures and an advancing cold front, fire managers are cautiously optimistic that the remaining active incidents will reach full containment within the coming weeks. The Oregon Department of Forestry and NIFC advise residents to continue checking InciWeb for the latest updates on individual fires.