The Rowe Creek Complex remains one of Oregon's most expansive and challenging active wildfire situations. Ignited by lightning on July 15, 2026, approximately 10 miles south of Fossil in Wheeler County, the complex has evolved dramatically over two weeks — merging fires, shifting management responsibilities across county lines, and forcing widespread evacuations across a swath of central Oregon's high desert and canyon country.

Complex Structure and Current Fires

The Rowe Creek Complex is a multi-fire incident managed by a Type 1 Incident Management Team that has coordinated suppression across Wheeler, Wasco, and Crook counties. Among the fires burning within or adjacent to the complex:

  • Brewer Fire — Burning in Crook County with Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations in effect
  • Green Mountain Fire — Active in Wheeler County near Fossil
  • Crosswhite West / Crosswhite East — The former Box Springs Fire merged with the Crosswhite Fire and was divided by the Wheeler-Crook county line; each portion has separate management responsibility
  • Little Buck Fire — Burning near Shaniko and Antelope as part of the Hay Creek Complex

Evacuation levels spanning Level 1 (Be Ready), Level 2 (Be Set), and Level 3 (Go Now) have been issued by the Crook and Wheeler county sheriffs' offices for communities throughout the affected area.

Firefighting Operations

More than 1,100 firefighters have been assigned to the Rowe Creek Complex, making it one of the largest single-incident resource commitments in Oregon this summer. Operations include direct attack on accessible flanks, structure protection in threatened rural communities, and air tanker drops to slow fire spread in steep canyon terrain where ground crews cannot safely access the fire's edge.

The complex has been particularly challenging due to its location in remote country with limited road access, strong and erratic afternoon winds channeled through river canyons, and an extreme mosaic of dry grass, shrubs, and juniper that carries fire with alarming speed.

Community Impact

The small agricultural communities of Fossil, Antelope, Shaniko, and Clarno have all been affected by evacuation orders and advisories at various times during the complex's progression. Residents who depend on working ranches in the area have faced difficult decisions about moving livestock under time pressure.

The Wheeler County Sheriff's Office is issuing regular updates on evacuation zone changes, which have shifted frequently as the fires move with wind changes. Residents are encouraged to maintain go-bags, pre-arrange animal evacuation, and check alerts frequently rather than waiting for the highest evacuation level before leaving.

Incident Contact Information

For the Rowe Creek Complex: Email 2026.rowecreekcomplex@firenet.gov or call 541-800-1280 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Incident information updates are also posted on InciWeb and through the Central Oregon Fire Information website at centraloregonfire.org.