Oregon wildfire season nears record as red-flag warnings surge
KATU reported that Oregon's 2026 wildfire season was on track to surpass the state record, with 60 large fires having burned more than 2 million acres as of August 1. Earlier, the National Weather Service issued several Particularly Dangerous Situation red-flag warnings for eastern Oregon and Washington, citing wind gusts over 50 mph, low humidity and extreme heat that could accelerate fire spread. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson then declared a statewide emergency and banned most outdoor and agricultural burning through September 30 in response to the unprecedented wildfire threat.
Actors
National Weather Service
Pendleton NWS office
Spokane NWS office
Bobby Corser
Storm Prediction Center
Northwest Interagency Coordination Center
KATU
Locations
Pendleton, Oregon, USA
Spokane, Washington, USA
Deschutes County, Oregon, USA
Crook County, Oregon, USA
Jefferson County, Oregon, USA
Lower Columbia River Basin, USA
Wheeler County, Washington, USA
Grant County, Washington, USA
Cascades, USA
