{{Short description|none}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox wildfire | title = 2026 Oregon wildfires | image = | caption = | cost = | references = | total_fires = | total_area = | buildings = | fatalities = | is_season = yes | year = 2026 | season_name = Oregon wildfires }}

The '''2026 Oregon wildfire season''' could potentially be severe, according to officials.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lugo |first=Dianne |title=Kotek warns of severe and difficult 2026 Oregon wildfire season |url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/oregon/2026/05/05/oregon-wildfire-season-forecast/89950790007/ |access-date=2026-05-15 |website=Statesman Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=2026-05-12 |title=Oregon Prepares for a Challenging Summer of Water Shortages and High Fire Risk |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/oregon-fire-season-drought-washington-idaho.html |access-date=2026-05-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 13, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260513015040/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/oregon-fire-season-drought-washington-idaho.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In [[Southern Oregon]], restrictions in [[Jackson County, Oregon|Jackson County]] and [[Josephine County, Oregon|Josephine]] [[Josephine County, Oregon|County]] were initiated with the start of the fire season in May 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jackson and Josephine counties enter fire season amid a dry spring |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/14/jackson-josephine-county-oregon-fire-season/ |access-date=2026-05-15 |website=opb |language=en}}</ref>

== Background == {{Further|List of Oregon wildfires}} "Fire season" in Oregon typically begins in mid-May and ends with the first rains that normally begins in late September. [[Drought]], [[snowpack]] levels, and local weather conditions play a role in Oregon's fire season, particularly in [[Eastern Oregon|Eastern]] and Southwest Oregon. During peak fire season from July to September, most wildfires are caused by [[lightning]], while ignitions in the early and later parts of the season are related to humans. Warm, dry conditions in summer heighten the wildfire risk. After over 100 years of fire suppression and prevention of all fires, there is now an abundance of fuel. [[Climate change]] is leading to a reduced snowpack with an earlier and reduced [[snowmelt]], so there is a higher risk for areas that receive wildfires.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oregon Fire Season: In-Depth Guide |url=https://wfca.com/wildfire-articles/oregon-fire-season/ |website=wfca.com |publisher=Western Fire Chiefs Association |access-date=June 7, 2025 |archive-date=April 20, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250420060532/https://wfca.com/wildfire-articles/oregon-fire-season/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== List of wildfires == <!-- NOTE: By convention, please only include fires that are over 1,000 acres, unless significant property damage or loss of life occurred. --> The following is a list of fires that burned more than {{Convert|1000|acres}}, or produced significant structural damage or casualties. {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center;" |- !scope="col"|Name !scope="col"|County <!-- of origin--> !scope="col"|Acres !scope="col"|Start date !scope="col"|Containment date{{Efn|Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[KCAL-TV]]|location=Los Angeles|title=What containment and other wildfire related terms mean|date=September 12, 2024|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/what-does-containment-mean-wildfire-evacuation-warning-order-red-flag/|access-date=May 15, 2026|archive-date=February 9, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209032410/https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/what-does-containment-mean-wildfire-evacuation-warning-order-red-flag/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} !scope="col"|Notes !scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|Pine Mountain |[[Deschutes County, Oregon|Deschutes]] |{{yes2|2,589}} |{{dts|2026|5|7|format=md}}{{Efn|Prescribed burn escaped on May&nbsp;7 but was initially conducted on May&nbsp;1}} |{{dts|2026|5|11|format=md}} |Started from an escaped [[controlled burn|prescribed burn]]. Burned southeast of [[Bend, Oregon|Bend]]. |<ref>{{cite web |title=Pine Mountain Fire Map |url=https://app.watchduty.org/i/96157 |access-date=May 15, 2026 |website=[[Watch Duty]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Prescribed burn escapes in eastern Deschutes County |url=https://www.klcc.org/news-briefs/2026-05-07/prescribed-burn-escapes-in-eastern-deschutes-county |access-date=May 15, 2026 |work=[[KLCC (FM)|KLCC]] |date=May 7, 2026 |archive-date=May 8, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260508050704/https://www.klcc.org/news-briefs/2026-05-07/prescribed-burn-escapes-in-eastern-deschutes-county |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Zen |[[Wasco County, Oregon|Wasco]] |{{no|1,500}} |{{dts|2026|5|25|format=md}} |{{center|{{percentage bar|0|0%}}}} |Burning {{convert|5|mile}} south of [[Clarno, Oregon|Clarno]]. |<ref>{{cite web |title=Zen Fire Map |url=https://app.watchduty.org/i/100026 |website=[[Watch Duty]] |access-date=May 26, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rain slows Zen Fire growth near Clarno after crews battled wind-driven flames |url=https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news/wildfires/zen-fire-clarno-oregon/article_d71654ac-56e4-43f6-a2bb-ea83e38fcd06.html |access-date=May 26, 2026 |work=Central Oregon Daily News |date=May 26, 2026}}</ref> |}

== See also == * [[2026 California wildfires]] * [[2026 United States wildfires]] * [[Wildfires in 2026]]

== Notes == {{notelist}}

==References== {{Portal|Oregon}} {{Reflist}}

{{Oregon wildfires}} {{2026 wildfires}}

[[Category:2026 in Oregon]] [[Category:2026 wildfires in the United States|Oregon]] [[Category:Wildfires in Oregon by year]]

{{Oregon-stub}}