Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed Executive Order 26-10 on June 15, 2026, declaring a state of emergency due to the imminent threat of wildfire — the same day Oregon's Department of Forestry officially declared fire season open statewide.

What the Order Does

The emergency declaration grants state responders access to all necessary resources needed to combat wildfires across Oregon. It authorizes the deployment of additional personnel and equipment, streamlines procurement processes, and enables faster coordination between state agencies. The order will remain in effect until the wildfire threat subsides, fire season concludes, or December 31, 2026, whichever comes first.

The declaration came as Oregon experienced its first significant heat event of 2026, with temperatures climbing well above normal across much of the state during mid-June. While that heat dome has since moved east, forecasters warn that hot and dry conditions are expected to worsen through the summer and will keep wildfire risk elevated across Oregon.

Oregon Forestry Enters Fire Season

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) announced June 15 that the state had officially entered fire season — a designation that triggers additional restrictions on burning and increases staffing levels at ODF dispatch centers. Fire season designations allow ODF to impose industrial fire precautions on logging operations and enforce restrictions on outdoor burning in fire-prone areas.

ODF also activated additional resources in anticipation of what could be a difficult fire season. The agency cited dry fuel conditions across eastern Oregon and elevated fire weather forecasts as key drivers.

Context: Oregon's Fire Risk This Year

Oregon's fire risk is elevated heading into summer 2026. A dry spring left fuels across the eastern part of the state well below normal moisture levels. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest had already logged a prescribed fire program on InciWeb earlier this season, and the Moon Complex fire burned more than 19,500 acres in southern Oregon last month before being contained.

State officials are urging Oregonians to review their wildfire preparedness plans, clear defensible space around structures, and sign up for local emergency notification systems. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management recommends residents have a go-bag ready and know at least two evacuation routes from their properties.

What Residents Should Do

  • Sign up for local emergency alerts through your county's notification system
  • Clear dry vegetation and combustibles from within 30 feet of structures
  • Know your evacuation routes and have a plan for pets and livestock
  • Check Oregon DEQ's air quality index before outdoor activities on smoky days