2026 Oregon wildfires

Fast-moving wildfires in Central Oregon, including the Bench Fire near Warm Springs, have forced Level 3 evacuations, highway closures, and home losses.

The Akawa Butte fire has burned 26,000 acres. The fire remains the nation’s top priority for firefighting resources.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek gave a press briefing Friday in the town of Sisters, where the nearby Akawa Butte Fire has already burned at least two homes and is the number one priority wildfire in the nation, officials say.

Nearly 2,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as heat and dry winds continue to fuel the Akawa Butte Fire near Sisters, Oregon.

A fire that sparked from lightning Wednesday evening near Marcola is mapped at nine acres as of Thursday.

Central Oregon wildfires endanger native animals. Think Wild shares tips on providing water, keeping pets safe, and protecting wildlife during fire season.

Various levels of evacuations are in place in both Deschutes and Jefferson Counties, including some just outside Sisters city limits.

ODOT urges travelers to check TripCheck.com and prepare for sudden highway closures and smoke delays as wildfire activity grows across Oregon.

State environmental regulators warn unhealthy air conditions could persist through the week.

With firefighting resources stretched thin, Oregon officials prioritize the East Evans Creek Fire while new human-caused starts challenge containment efforts.

More than 1,000 people in Oregon have been ordered to evacuate their homes this week.

No structures were lost in the fire, and all residents can return home, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.