Oregon Wildfires: Rowe Creek Complex, Grasshopper Fire and 19 Other Large Incidents Active Statewide

Oregon is confronting one of the most severe wildfire seasons in the state's history, with 21 large fires burning across the state as of August 19, 2026. The fires collectively span millions of acres from the Coast Range to the high desert, stretching firefighting resources and emergency management capacity to the limit. While the historic Big Grass Fire on the Idaho border is now 82% contained, multiple other significant incidents remain active and threatening.

Rowe Creek Complex

The Rowe Creek Complex, burning in central Oregon, has been one of the more active multi-fire complexes in the region this season. The complex, managed by central Oregon fire managers, has triggered Red Flag Warnings on multiple occasions as thunderstorm activity brought lightning to already-tinder-dry fuels. Fire information officials at centraloregonfire.org have been providing daily updates as crews work to establish containment lines across rugged terrain.

As with many Oregon fires this season, the Rowe Creek Complex is battling both the immediate fire threat and an ongoing challenge of remote access, limited water sources, and steep slopes that limit the effectiveness of ground operations. Aerial resources have been critical to operations on this complex.

Grasshopper Fire

The Grasshopper Fire, burning near Mount Hood in the northern portion of the state, has been one of the more dramatic incidents of the season due to its proximity to communities and recreation areas. The fire prompted evacuation orders and warnings for areas between Antone Butte and the Klamath Falls-Lakeview Highway corridor at its peak.

Earlier this month, six houses were burned and approximately 200 buildings were threatened by the Grasshopper Fire before crews established better control of its perimeter. Hotshot crews and aerial resources worked around the clock during the fire's most aggressive runs. Progress has been made in recent days, and fire managers report increased containment.

Hagen Fire (Umatilla County)

The Hagen Fire, burning four miles east of Gibbon in Umatilla County, triggered Level 3 "Go Now" evacuations at its height as hotshot crews raced to construct containment lines with aircraft support. The fire has been an all-hands-on-deck effort involving multiple agency cooperators, including the Umatilla National Forest and Oregon Department of Forestry.

Fielder Mountain Fire

The Fielder Mountain Fire brought additional evacuations to eastern Oregon, with Level 1, 2, and 3 notices in effect for areas in the region. The fire highlighted the challenge facing fire managers this season: multiple simultaneous large fires straining the availability of Type 1 Incident Management Teams and specialized resources like hotshot crews and heavy air tankers.

Statewide Outlook

Oregon's 65 active wildfires collectively represent a historic burden on the state's fire management infrastructure. The Oregon Department of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, and Bureau of Land Management are all operating at peak capacity, with resources shared between incidents based on priority and threat to life and property.

Key statewide statistics as of mid-August 2026:

65 active wildfires statewide burning approximately 1.95 million acres
21 large fires (100+ acres in timber, 300+ acres in grass)
Smoke advisories in effect for at least six counties including Crook, Jefferson, Wasco, and Wheeler
Multiple evacuation orders and warnings from the coast range to the Idaho border