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Oregon's 2026 Wildfire Season Nears Devastating 2024 Record with 1.7M Acres Burned
Thirty-four major fires have forced thousands to flee as smoke advisories spread to Idaho and firefighting resources grow stretched.
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, Oregon wildfires burned more than 1 million acres, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. Firefighters continue to battle 30 large blazes across the state.
- Record-Low snowpack and recent lightning storms ignited tinderbox-like landscapes across central and eastern Oregon. Wildfire experts note fuels are drying exceptionally early in the season due to historically hot, dry conditions.
- Statewide, about 12,000 personnel are battling 30 large fires at a cost of $242 million. The Bench Fire on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation has grown to 60,271 acres with 3% containment.
- Governor Tina Kotek announced Wednesday that Oregon secured three federal grants to help offset suppression costs for fires including the Grasshopper Fire. Air quality advisories remain in effect across multiple counties.
- Forecasters expect another round of lightning storms later this week in northeastern Oregon, potentially increasing fire behavior. The current season approaches the 1.93 million acre record set in 2024.
Insights by Ground AI
14 Articles
14 Articles
Oregon is on track for its worst wildfire season yet
Wildfires in central and eastern Oregon are prompting evacuations and forcing ranchers to scramble to move cattle and find feed as public range land burns. More than a million acres have burned so far. Most fires have little or no containment.
·San Diego, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution73% Center
Bias Distribution
- 73% of the sources are Center
73% Center
L 27%
C 73%
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