PNW Focus
Prescribed Burns Resume in Oregon’s Willamette Valley as Fire Season Transitions
With the worst of the 2026 fire season winding down, land managers and ecological restoration groups are resuming prescribed burns in Oregon’s Willamette Valley — from Mt. Pisgah to Howard Buford Recreation Area — to restore habitat and reduce future fire risk.
PNW Focus
Big Grass Fire Nears Full Containment After Burning 578,637 Acres — Oregon’s Largest Wildfire on Record
The Big Grass Fire — Oregon’s largest wildfire on record at 578,637 acres — is 94% contained after more than seven weeks of firefighting, marking a major milestone in a historically destructive 2026 season.
PNW Focus
Five Major Fires Still Active Along Washington's Cascade Range
Washington led all states with nine active large fires as of September 18, with five significant incidents continuing to burn along the Cascade Range — driving evacuations, trail closures, and smoke impacts across the region.
PNW Focus
Idaho Fire Update: Selway Wilderness, Crooked, and Upper Smith Fires Remain Active
Idaho's active large fires include the Crooked Fire at 10,081 acres, the Selway Wilderness Fires at 7,475 acres deep in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, and the Upper Smith Fire at 4,848 acres. With seven large fires listed by NIFC, Idaho continues to contribute significantly to the Northwest's active fire burden.
PNW Focus
Washington's Two Mega-Fires Both Hit 81% Containment — Highest Level in Weeks
The Little Giant Fire (172,814 acres) and the Sinlahekin Fire (166,026 acres) — Washington's two largest active wildfires — have both reached 81% containment, marking a significant milestone after weeks of difficult firefighting in north-central Washington.
PNW Focus
Little Giant Fire: How Washington's Largest 2026 Blaze Was Kept From Becoming a Catastrophe
At 172,695 acres and 81 percent contained, the Little Giant Fire in Chelan County is Washington's largest wildfire of 2026. Fire managers credit favorable weather and aggressive tactical decisions with preventing what could have been a much larger disaster.
PNW Focus
Washington State Wildfire Roundup: A Dozen Large Fires Still Active as Containment Slowly Grows
Washington continues to host more large active wildfires than any other state, with 10 uncontained fires and more than 500,000 acres burned across the Cascades and Okanogan Highlands this season.
PNW Focus
Owyhee River Grassfire Highlights Human-Caused Fire Risk in Southeast Oregon
A fast-moving grassfire near the Owyhee Wild and Scenic River canyon in southeast Oregon highlights the ongoing human-caused fire threat in the high desert, where dry cured grasses create extreme spread conditions through early fall.
PNW Focus
Idaho Holds Seven Large Active Fires; State Racks Up $40 Million in Wildfire Suppression Debt
Idaho is managing seven large active fires while carrying nearly $40 million in wildfire suppression debt this season. The Cascade Fire in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests remains 50% contained after burning 7,475 acres.
PNW Focus
Home Hardening and Preparedness: What Pacific Northwest Residents Can Do Now Before the Next Fire
With 2.3 million acres burned in Oregon and thousands of structures lost across the PNW in 2026, fire preparedness experts urge homeowners to create defensible space, ember-proof their homes, and build evacuation plans before next season. Key steps and resources for Oregon and Washington residents.
PNW Focus
Oregon's Record-Shattering 2026 Fire Season: Big Grass, Grasshopper, and Hagen Fires Lead Statewide Effort
Oregon's 2026 wildfire season has burned 2.3 million acres — a new all-time state record. The Big Grass Fire (578,637 acres, 94% contained) is Oregon's largest ever. The Rowe Creek Complex is at 99% containment, while the Paradise Fire remains below 50%.
PNW Focus
Little Giant and Sinlahekin Fires Show Progress as Washington Battles 12 Large Blazes
The Little Giant Fire (172,695 acres, 81% contained) and Sinlahekin Fire (166,026 acres) lead Washington's 12 active large blazes. Sinlahekin evacuation orders were fully lifted September 12. Lake Chelan evacuation levels remain in effect for the Little Giant.
PNW Focus
Oregon's Record-Breaking 2026 Fire Season: 2.5 Million Acres, $236 Million, and a Prescribed Burn Deficit
Oregon's 2026 wildfire season has burned 2.5 million acres and cost the state over $236 million — a new record. Experts point to a critical prescribed burn shortfall: only 7,000 acres treated statewide over the past five years.
PNW Focus
Washington's Biggest Wildfires: Little Giant, Sinlahekin, and Ptarmigan Push Toward Containment
Washington's three largest active wildfires — Little Giant (172,695 acres, 81% contained), Sinlahekin (166,026 acres, 76%), and Ptarmigan (25,166 acres, 73%) — are making progress as a statewide burn ban remains in place.
PNW Focus
Three Queens, King, and Goat Fire Complex Burns in Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness
A lightning-caused fire complex east of Snoqualmie Pass continues to burn in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, with 482 personnel assigned and evacuation levels being gradually reduced in some areas.
PNW Focus
Washington Wildfire Season Leaves Hundreds of Families Displaced, Thousands of Acres Burned
Washington leads the nation with 12 active large fires. The Kaiser Canyon and Modrite fires destroyed 43 homes on Colville tribal land; near Spokane, early August blazes damaged or destroyed 600 structures. A statewide burn ban remains in effect through September 30.
PNW Focus
Oregon's Largest Fires Moving Toward Containment After Record-Breaking Summer
Oregon's eight active large fires are trending toward containment following early September rainfall. The Big Grass Fire (578,637 acres) leads the state's 2026 fire statistics at 94% containment, while the Austin Fire on Mt. Hood remains at just 21% contained.
PNW Focus
Cascade Fires Threaten Wilderness Areas and Mountain Infrastructure in Washington
The King Fire in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness has grown to over 3,000 acres with no containment, while the Goat Fire near Snoqualmie Pass remains active — both threatening trails and infrastructure in the central Cascades.
PNW Focus
Hagen Fire Gains Containment in Oregon's Umatilla National Forest
The Hagen Fire in Oregon's Umatilla National Forest has reached 60% containment at 61,385 acres, with crews now focused on suppression repair and stabilization as evacuation orders are scaled back.
PNW Focus
2026 Pacific Northwest Fire Season Exceeds 2.5 Million Acres — And It Is Not Over Yet
More than 2.5 million acres have burned across Oregon and Washington in 2026, making this one of the most destructive fire seasons in Northwest history. Despite a September cooling window, fire managers warn that above-normal fire potential is expected to persist through at least late autumn.