Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a statewide wildfire emergency Tuesday, citing mounting fire activity, record-low snowpack, widespread drought, and deteriorating weather conditions as the 2026 fire season ramps up across the state.

Emergency Declaration Activates Statewide Resources

"Increasing heat, dry vegetation, and shifting winds continue to align and create dangerous conditions that demand immediate action," Kotek said in a press release Tuesday morning. "I am declaring a State of Emergency to ensure all available resources — firefighting crews, aerial support, ground resources, and emergency personnel are prepared for deployments — to protect people, property, and our natural landscapes."

The declaration ensures that the Oregon Department of Forestry and the state fire marshal's office have the wildfire crews and equipment they need. It also directs the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to activate the state's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The order remains in effect through December 31, 2026, unless fire conditions improve significantly or the season ends sooner.

By the Numbers: 414 Fires and 8,000 Acres Already

Kotek noted that Oregon has already experienced 414 fires burning more than 8,000 acres in 2026, with several causing temporary evacuations. The fire activity comes amid troubling background conditions:

  • Record-setting low snowpack statewide, meaning rivers and soils are drying out faster than normal
  • Nearly half of Oregon's counties are facing persistent drought conditions
  • On average, 70 percent of Oregon wildfires are human-caused
  • Eastern and southern Oregon fuels are months ahead of their typical drying schedule

Red Flag Warnings Spanned Oregon and Washington

The declaration came as the National Weather Service in Pendleton issued a Red Flag Warning covering much of eastern Washington and northeast Oregon on Tuesday. West winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph combined with afternoon humidity values as low as 19 percent created explosive fire weather conditions across the Columbia Basin and surrounding areas.

All ODF Districts Now in Fire Season

The declaration also coincides with all Oregon Department of Forestry districts having formally entered fire season. The Central Oregon district was first to declare on May 8, and the Northwest Oregon Area — covering portions of Marion, Polk, Clackamas, Multnomah, Lincoln, Benton, Yamhill, Tillamook, Clatsop, and Columbia counties — declared fire season on June 15, the last district to do so.

"Due to drier fuels and forecasted conditions, the ODF districts within Northwest Oregon Area have decided to go into fire season starting June 15," said Don Everingham, ODF Northwest Oregon Area Director. Fire restrictions now apply statewide, including prohibitions on debris burning and limitations on spark-generating activities during peak afternoon hours.

What Oregonians Can Do

Governor Kotek urged all Oregonians to take wildfire preparedness seriously now, before conditions worsen. Key actions include:

  • Subscribe to emergency alerts at ORAlert.gov
  • Maintain defensible space around homes and outbuildings
  • Create and practice a household evacuation plan
  • Prepare a go-kit with documents, medications, and essentials
  • Follow all fire restrictions and avoid spark-generating activities during dry, windy afternoons

"Prevention starts with every Oregonian — at home, at work, and out and about enjoying our great state," Kotek said.