Autumn starts Wednesday, and cooler weather will soon follow. This is a relief for firefighters and residents whose homes were threatened during this summer's fire season.
Since June first, more than 576 thousand acres burned in Oregon. In Washington, it was about 990 thousand. During peak season, more than 10 thousand personnel were fighting fires in the northwest.
Cynthia Orlando with the state Department of Forestry says the 3 largest fires burning in Oregon are almost fully contained.
Orlando: "Well, it looks like we're out of the worst part of it for the year with the rainfall we received recently and the cooling trend."
Orlando says there were more than 1000 lightning caused fires this summer-- about 800 human-caused.
The Canyon Creek Fire near John Day was this summer's most catastrophic blaze in Oregon. It destroyed dozens of homes. California is still coping with an active fire season.