The majority of Oregon is in high or extreme fire danger (7/31/24).  Worsening forest fire conditions have busted the prior forecast for “normal” summer fires.  More lightning and heat is forecast for the next week.

 

On July 17 and 21, Oregon experienced two huge dry-lightning storms resulting in over 2,000 strikes across the state, some which started fires across parched wildlands of Eastern, Southern, Central Oregon, and the South Cascades.  Most fires were stopped at less than 2 acres; others escaped.

Across Oregon on July 31st, 35 large Oregon fires burned 1,168,786 acres of rangeland and forests.  There were five “megafires” (over 100,000 acres) in eastern Oregon.  On that date, 20 Oregon fires remained less than 10 percent contained.

Nationwide, 95 large wildfires were burning on 2,180,105 acres, fought by over 28,000 wildland firefighters, plus additional air and equipment resources.  Due to the large number of tough fires, agency managers report that most available resources are deployed—locally, regionally, nationally.

The national wildland firefighting commitment was at its top level in late-July—meaning Oregon wildfires would receive limited out-of-state support.

More information: https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn