Oregon's 2026 wildfire season has been one for the record books, and as the calendar turns to October, the state's two largest fires are finally nearing closure — bringing some much-needed relief to rural communities that endured months of smoke, evacuations, and resource strain.

Crosswhite Fire: Oregon's Largest of the Season

The Crosswhite Fire in Wheeler County — designated 0445 CROSSWHITE in federal reporting systems — has reached 100% containment after burning an estimated 342,923 acres across the sagebrush steppe and juniper woodlands of north-central Oregon. The fire became one of the largest in Oregon history and tested the capacity of state and federal firefighting agencies throughout the summer.

Wheeler County, a sparsely populated region of Oregon's high desert, saw significant impacts to rangelands and livestock operations. Local ranchers faced feed shortages and fencing losses across dozens of miles of burned rangeland. Recovery efforts are expected to take years, with rangeland restoration programs through the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) already being mobilized.

Second Flat Fire: 105,854 Acres in Harney County

The Second Flat Fire in Harney County reached 99% containment as of this week after burning 105,854 acres east of Burns. At its most intense, the fire prompted evacuation orders from both the Harney and Grant County sheriffs' offices, displacing ranching families and shutting down key highway corridors.

As one of multiple large fires to hit Oregon's high desert this summer, the Second Flat Fire strained the resources of the Great Basin Coordination Center and required multiple Type 1 and Type 2 incident management team rotations before weather finally moderated.

Other Notable Oregon Incidents

Oregon's wildfire tracker currently shows 46 fires listed statewide, though most are in mop-up or monitoring status. Additional notable fires from the 2026 season include:

  • Grasshopper Fire (Wasco County/Mt. Hood NF): 93,972 acres, ongoing mop-up near Dufur
  • Austin Fire (Mt. Hood NF): Burning approximately 25 miles southeast of Estacada in brush and timber
  • Numerous smaller rangeland fires across Lake, Malheur, and Crook counties

What Recovery Looks Like

Across eastern Oregon, the focus is already shifting from suppression to recovery. Key priorities include:

  • Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessments to identify erosion and flood risks before winter rains
  • Reseeding of burned rangelands to prevent invasive grass establishment
  • Hazard tree removal along state and county roads passing through burn scars
  • Air quality monitoring as prescribed burns begin this fall and winter

The 2026 season will be remembered as one of Oregon's most challenging wildfire years. With fall moisture on the horizon, the state's firefighting agencies are now pivoting to after-action review, staff demobilization, and preparation for next season.