Wildfire Awareness Month: What Pacific Northwest Residents Should Do Right Now to Prepare

May is Wildfire Awareness Month — and with forecasters warning that 2026 could bring one of the most severe fire seasons the Pacific Northwest has seen in decades, the message couldn’t be more timely. Fire agencies across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho are urging residents to use this month to move from awareness to action.

Why This Year Is Different

While fire preparedness is always important, this year carries elevated urgency. A string of compounding factors has fire managers on edge:

Drought conditions expanding across eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and southern Idaho
Below-average snowpack across the Cascades and northern Rockies
Above-average spring temperatures accelerating the drying of vegetation
The season’s first large fire — the Pine Mountain Fire near Bend, Oregon — was already contained by mid-May, an unusually early start

Nearly 85% of wildfires in the United States are caused by human activity and are preventable. That means individual choices matter enormously during high-fire-danger periods.

Create Defensible Space Around Your Home

Defensible space is the single most effective thing a homeowner can do to protect their property. Washington DNR and Oregon ODF both recommend:

Clear pine needles, dry leaves, and debris from your roof and gutters
Move firewood and combustible materials at least 30 feet from structures
Remove or prune shrubs and trees within 30 feet of the home — especially those touching the structure
Clear intrusive undergrowth between trees to prevent fire from climbing from ground to canopy
Create a non-combustible zone directly adjacent to the house (“Zone 0”) within the immediate 0–5 foot perimeter

Know Your Evacuation Routes and Plan

When a wildfire threatens, seconds matter. Having a practiced evacuation plan is critical:

Identify at least two routes out of your neighborhood
Designate a family meeting point away from your home
Know the evacuation levels used in your county (Level 1 = Be Ready, Level 2 = Be Set, Level 3 = Go Now)
Pack a go-bag with medications, documents, water, food, phone chargers, and clothing
Don’t forget pets — have carriers and supplies ready
Sign up for your county’s emergency alert system (AlertSense, Nixle, Wireless Emergency Alerts)

Stay Informed and Report Fires Early

Early detection and reporting saves lives and structures. If you see smoke or flame:

Call 9-1-1 immediately — don’t assume someone else has already called
Note your location, the direction of smoke, and wind conditions
Monitor local fire information at centraloregonfire.org, Washington DNR, or your county OEM website
Check air quality at fire.airnow.gov during smoky conditions

Prevent Human-Caused Fires

As BLM fire restrictions take effect on May 14 across Oregon and Washington, all visitors to public lands need to understand and follow the rules:

No fireworks, exploding targets, or sky lanterns on BLM lands
Extinguish all campfires completely — cold to the touch before you leave
Never leave a campfire unattended
Avoid using equipment that can spark near dry vegetation on high-fire-danger days
Check local fire restrictions before heading out