2022 Oregon wildfires

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2022 Oregon wildfries
Pyrocumulus cloud from Cedar Creek Fire 8-4-2022.jpg
Pyrocumulus cloud created by the Cedar Creek Fire in Oregon on August 4
Statistics
Total fires1,975
Burned area436,772
Impacts
Deaths2
Structures destroyed2
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2023  →

The 2022 Oregon wildfire season was a series of wildfires burning in the U.S. state of Oregon.

Contents

On August 28, 2022, Governor Kate Brown declared a statewide emergency because multiple wildfires, including the Rum Creek Fire. [1] [2] That same month, Governor Brown invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act because of the Miller Road/Dodge Fire. [3] On October 22nd, the Oregon Department of Forestry declared an end to fire season due in part to rainy, cooler conditions. As of the announced end of the 2022 fire season, 1,975 fires had burned 436,772 acres across the state. [4]

Background

"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 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. [5]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment date [a] NotesRef
Griffin Harney 1,705July 15August 11Unknown cause
Windigo Deschutes 1,007July 30September 5Caused by lightning strike [7]
Cedar Creek Deschutes, Lane 112,287August 1November 22Caused by lightning strike; caused the evacuation on the city of Oakridge [8]
Big Swamp Douglas 111August 1September 4Caused by lightning strike; 1 firefighter died after being struck by a tree [9] [10]
Miller Road Wasco 10,847August 2August 25Unknown cause. Destroyed 1 structure [11]
Rum Creek Josephine 21,347August 17October 17Caused by lightning strike; 1 firefighter died after being struck by a tree [12] [13]
Crockets Knob Grant 4,287August 22November 22Caused by lightning strike [14]
Sturgill Union, Wallowa 23,507August 22October 26Caused by lightning strike [15]
Nebo Wallowa 12,609August 25October 26Caused by lightning strike [16]
Double Creek Wallowa 171,532August 30October 26Caused by lightning strike [17]
Van Meter Klamath 3,500September 7September 8Unknown cause, burning near Merrill [18]
Amelia Road Malheur 3,727September 8September 10Unknown cause

Notes

  1. ↑ 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. [6]

References

  1. ↑ "Oregon governor declares statewide emergency as wildfire spreads". Associated Press. August 29, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Governor Declares Wildfire State Of Emergency | News Radio 1190 KEX". Portland Local News. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Brown declares conflagration for wildfire south of The Dalles". Oregon Public Broadcasting. August 3, 2022. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Rain, cool temps prompt end of 2022 fire season, ODF reports". October 27, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Oregon Fire Season: In-Depth Guide". wfca.com. Western Fire Chiefs Association. February 23, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  6. ↑ "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Windigo Fire Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Cedar Creek Fire Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Big Swamp Fire Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Michigan firefighter struck by tree, killed while fighting Big Swamp Fire on Willamette National Forest". KTVZ. August 11, 2022. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Crews report progress on Windigo, Miller Road wildfires". FOX 26 KMVU . August 8, 2022. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Rum Creek Fire Information". InciWeb. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  13. ↑ Urness, Zach (August 19, 2022), "Wildland firefighter killed on Rum Creek Fire identified", Statesman Journal, retrieved September 12, 2022
  14. ↑ "Crockets Knob Fire Information". InciWeb. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Sturgill Fire Information". InciWeb. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Nebo Fire Information". InciWeb. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Double Creek Fire Information". InciWeb. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Van Meter Fire Information". InciWeb. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
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