PNW Focus

Fast-moving fires near Biggs Junction closed I-84 in both directions last weekend while evacuation notices were issued for portions of Horsethief Park on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge.

A prescribed burn on the Pine Mountain area of Central Oregon's Deschutes National Forest escaped its boundaries in early May and was declared a wildfire, underscoring the challenges of spring burning operations.

Oregon's Wildfire Awareness Month is underway, and state emergency management officials are urging all residents to pack go-bags, know evacuation routes, review insurance, and create defensible space before the fire season peaks.

Fast-moving flames shut down Interstate 84 near Biggs Junction last weekend as multiple simultaneous fires erupted across the Columbia Gorge corridor, signaling an early and potentially dangerous start to Oregon's 2026 wildfire season.

Agencies in the Deschutes National Forest and surrounding areas completed a series of spring prescribed burns near Bend, Sisters, Chemult, and Crescent, reducing fuel loads ahead of what forecasters expect to be a challenging 2026 fire season.

Fast-moving fires near Biggs Junction shut down I-84 and prompted evacuations at Horsethief Park on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge, signaling an early and active start to the 2026 wildfire season.

Oregon and Washington emergency managers are urging residents to complete wildfire evacuation preparations now, as early-season fires and an above-normal fire forecast signal a demanding summer ahead. Know your evacuation level system, build your go-bag, and sign up for county emergency alerts before you need them.

Fast-moving fires erupted along the Interstate 84 corridor near Biggs Junction in Oregon's Columbia Gorge this weekend, forcing a temporary freeway closure and vehicle crashes. Simultaneous fires burned in Washington's Benton County, signaling that Oregon's 2026 fire season is already underway.

Fire restrictions banning most open fires on Deschutes, Ochoco, and BLM Prineville lands took effect weeks earlier than normal as drought conditions dry out fuels ahead of the typical summer fire season.

Record-low snowpack, the warmest winter in Oregon history, and early fire activity are setting the stage for what officials warn could be one of the most severe wildfire seasons in Pacific Northwest history.

New research incorporating socioeconomic vulnerability data has identified more than 400 Pacific Northwest communities — including Cave Junction, Glendale, and La Pine — as facing greater wildfire risk than standard environmental models show.

Fast-moving flames near Biggs Junction forced the temporary closure of Interstate 84 this weekend as Oregon's 2026 wildfire season made an early and dramatic entrance. Fires also burned in Benton County, Washington and near Columbia Hills State Park.

Stage 1 campfire restrictions are in effect across Central Oregon public lands including the Deschutes National Forest just as the Memorial Day holiday weekend begins. Fire officials urge all visitors to know the rules and have a wildfire preparedness plan.

BLM fire restrictions took effect May 14 across all BLM-administered lands in Oregon and Washington, while Central Oregon public lands entered Stage 1 restrictions on May 13 amid historically dry fuel conditions and low snowpack.

Fire restrictions are already in place across BLM lands in Oregon and Washington heading into Memorial Day weekend. Fire managers urge recreationists to know current rules, avoid spark-producing activities, and never leave a campfire unattended.

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is conducting spring prescribed fire operations to reduce fuel loads ahead of what forecasters warn could be an extreme 2026 fire season. Operations are coordinated with Oregon DEQ air quality standards.

BLM imposed enhanced fire restrictions across all Oregon and Washington BLM lands on May 14, citing extreme early-season heat and dryness. Officials warn 2026 could rival the worst fire years on record for the Pacific Northwest.

A fast-moving grass fire ignited May 21 near Othello, WA, on Hendricks Road, growing to 359 acres and 30% contained under BLM Spokane District management. Eastern Washington's critically dry fuel conditions are fueling concerns ahead of Memorial Day weekend.

New research identifies hundreds of Pacific Northwest communities facing higher wildfire risk than previously mapped — many of them smaller, lower-income towns with limited firefighting resources and home hardening capacity to protect against the growing threat.

Central Oregon public lands entered Stage 1 fire restrictions on May 18 as fuel conditions worsen ahead of summer. Meanwhile, the Flat Fire near Culver has reached 67% containment and all evacuation levels have been dropped to Level 1.