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 across the state. The declaration came on the same day that the Oregon Department of Forestry formally announced the start of the 2026 fire season — an early opening that reflects rapidly developing dangerous conditions statewide.

What the Declaration Does

The emergency declaration is a proactive tool that enables faster, more flexible government response to wildfire threats before they escalate into catastrophic events. Key provisions include:

  • Directing all state agencies and first responders to use all necessary and appropriate equipment to combat wildfires
  • Streamlining the mobilization of state firefighting resources across jurisdictional boundaries
  • Enabling the Oregon State Fire Marshal to more easily bring in firefighting resources from outside Oregon if communities come under threat
  • Activating mutual aid agreements and interstate compacts to draw on neighboring states’ resources

“The emergency declaration increases our ability to get resources,” said Travis Medema, chief deputy state fire marshal. “It allows for us to mobilize resources if needed and communities are threatened.” Medema emphasized that having the declaration in place before major fires break out adds a critical layer of preparedness as officials monitor dry conditions, drought, and below-normal snowpack across parts of the state.

Early Fire Season: What It Means

The Oregon Department of Forestry’s decision to formally open fire season on June 15 is earlier than the historical average for much of the state. The ODF cited a combination of factors driving the early declaration:

  • Below-normal snowpack that melted earlier than average, drying out fuels ahead of schedule
  • Drought conditions across Central and Eastern Oregon
  • Warmer-than-average spring temperatures accelerating grass curing
  • Increasing fire weather events including red flag warnings

With fire season now official, comprehensive fire restrictions are in effect across ODF’s Central Oregon, Northeast Oregon, and Southwest Oregon districts. These restrictions prohibit recreational campfires, fire pits, outdoor burning of yard debris, and agricultural burning on ODF-protected lands. Violations can result in fines and liability for suppression costs.

Broader Context: A Dangerous Summer Ahead

Oregon’s emergency declaration follows a national trend. On June 18, the National Interagency Fire Center raised the National Preparedness Level to 3 — the midpoint on a scale of 1 to 5 — as large fire activity surged across the Northwest, Great Basin, Rocky Mountain, and Southwest geographic areas. Year-to-date, more than 33,349 fires have burned over 2.6 million acres nationally, exceeding the 10-year average for both fires and acres burned.

The NIFC’s seasonal outlook calls for above-normal fire potential across the Pacific Northwest through summer and into fall, with drought conditions expected to worsen as the dry season progresses. An emerging El Niño pattern is expected to contribute to more frequent critical fire weather days this summer and fall.

Oregon residents are strongly encouraged to:

  • Sign up for their county’s emergency alert system
  • Prepare a go-bag and evacuation plan for their household
  • Clear defensible space around their homes
  • Follow all fire restriction orders and report fires immediately by calling 911