2025 Oregon wildfires

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2025 Oregon wildfires
AlderSpringsFire.jpg
An air tanker drops fire retardant on the Alder Springs Fire on June 16, 2025
Statistics
Total fires~14
Total area20,300 acres (8,200 ha) (as of June 19, 2025) [1]
Impacts
Structures destroyed67
Season
←  2024

The 2025 Oregon wildfire season is a series of ongoing wildfires that are burning throughout the U.S. state of Oregon.

Contents

On May 7, Governor Tina Kotek signed a declaration declaring May “Wildfire Awareness Month”. [2] The season is expected to be similarly destructive as the 2024 season, the most destructive in history. [3] On May 27, Senator Ron Wyden criticized cuts to NOAA under the second presidency of Donald Trump and other federal firefighting resources like the Forest Service, framing the agencies as nonpartisan and the cuts as not warranted. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has set the start date for the season as June 1, but forecasts show unseasonably hot and dry weather could start fires before the date. [4]

Background

Oregon Drought Monitor at its peak on July 29, 2025 2025 Oregon Drought Monitor.png
Oregon Drought Monitor at its peak on July 29, 2025

"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
Butte Creek Wheeler 1,776May 25May 30First non-prescribed or debris burn in 2025. Burned 9 miles (14 km) north of Clarno and prompted evacuations for Mosier. [7] [8] [9]
Rowena Wasco 3,700June 11June 25Closed Interstate 84, evacuations for The Dalles, Kotek invokes Emergency Conflagration Act. Portion of Washington State Route 14 closed. At least 2,000 residential structures under evacuation notices. 56 residences and 91 secondary structures destroyed as of 6/16. [10] [11] [12] [13]
Ferry Gilliam and Sherman 10,458June 11June 19Burned in Cottonwood Canyon State Park near State Route 206. Evacuations near Highway 206. [14] [15]
Alder Springs Jefferson 3,279June 16June 30Quickly growing fire that burned near Crooked River Ranch on the Crooked River National Grassland. Evacuations issued for portions of Jefferson and Deschutes Counties. Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilizes structure protection resources under Emergency Conflagration Act for second time in a week. [16] [17] [18]
Wolf Hollow Gilliam 1,200June 17June 17Started by a pickup truck. Burned Conservation Reserve Program fields and grassland. [19] [20]
Black Canyon Lake 1,584July 1July 5Lightning-caused. Burned near Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. [21] [22]
Cold Springs Umatilla 2,489July 2
98%
Burning near Hat Rock, 1 home has been destroyed and as of July 2, 2025 15 to 30 structures are threatened. [23] [24]
Elk Klamath County 2,637July 8August 6Cause under investigation. Burned 8 miles (13 km) north of Bonanza. Prompted a closure area for parts of Fremont-Winema National Forest. [25] [26] [27]
Willow Crook 4,417July 9August 4Lightning-caused. Burned 20 miles (32 km) south of Paulina. [28]
Cram Jefferson, Wasco 95,736July 13July 29Human-caused. Burning 15 miles (24 km) north of Madras. 4 homes and 2 other structures have been destroyed. [29] [30] [31]
Helix Umatilla 3,472July 14July 15A brush fire started in a wheat field near Helix and burned to the Oregon-Washington border. Multiple departments from both states responded. A burn-over destroyed a Milton-Freewater Rural Fire Department engine, and one firefighter was treated and released for smoke inhalation. [32] [33] [34]
Black Hills Malheur 4,958July 17July 19Undetermined cause. Burned 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Burns Junction. [35] [36]
Mendiola Road Malheur 1,641July 18July 19Undetermined cause. Burned 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Adrian. [37] [38]
Kinkade Morrow TBDJuly 18July 18Four fires started almost simultaneously in Boardman, one by a lawnmower, and one suspicious in nature. The brush fire near Kinkade Road spread quickly and destroyed five homes and a former church convented to a food pantry. Multiple vehicles were also destroyed. [39] [40]
Butte Creek Wasco 2,046July 19
85%
Undetermined cause. Burning 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Simnasho. [41]
Little John Malheur 12,934July 27August 4Unknown cause. Burned 8 miles (13 km) west of Arock. [42]
Rock Creek Malheur 31,960July 29August 4Unknown cause. Burned 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Jordan Valley. [43] [44]
Lost Tom Malheur 1,124July 29July 31Unknown cause. Burned 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Huntington. [45]
Flat Jefferson 23,261August 21
7%
Human-caused. Started west of Culver in hot, windy conditions. Three structural tasks forces sent under Conflagration act. [46] [47]
Emigrant Lane, Douglas 10,000August 24
0%
Lightning-caused. Burning 24 miles (39 km) northwest of Oakridge. Closed several recreational sites. [48] [49]
2025 Oregon wildfires
Perimeters of 2025 Oregon wildfires (map data)

See also

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. ↑ Urness, Zach (June 20, 2025). "Oregon wildfires have already burned 20,000 acres and destroyed 56 homes. What's next?". Statesman Journal . Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  2. ↑ Sentinel, Jeremy C. Ruark Cottage Grove (May 7, 2025). "Governor details forecast for Oregon's 2025 wildfire season". Cottage Grove Sentinel. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  3. ↑ Lerten, Barney (May 28, 2025). "As Oregon's fire season arrives, here's what you need to know about the three evacuation levels, and how to prepare". KTVZ. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  4. ↑ Pollock, Buffy (May 28, 2025). "'This is all about safety': Sen. Wyden calls funding a top priority for 2025 local wildfire season". Rogue Valley Times. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Oregon Fire Season: In-Depth Guide". wfca.com. Western Fire Chiefs Association. 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. ↑ CORSER, BOBBY (May 26, 2025). "Butte Creek Fire, Oregon's first big blaze of 2025 season, grows to 2,000 acres". KATU. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  8. ↑ Plante, Aimee (May 29, 2025). "Butte Creek Fire reaches 40% containment in Central Oregon". KOIN . Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Butte Creek Fire Map". Watch Duty . Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  10. ↑ Fortsch, Tristan (June 11, 2025). "Fire closes I-84 in Columbia Gorge, 700+ homes under Level 3 "GO" evacuation orders". KATU. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Rowena Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  12. ↑ DePaola, Amy-Xiaoshi (June 11, 2025). "Evacuations ordered near The Dalles as wildfires close I-84 in Oregon, SR 14 in Washington". KGW . Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  13. ↑ Staff, FOX 12; Schacht, Spencer (June 14, 2025). "Rowena wildfire has burned 56 homes, 91 other buildings, Wasco Co. sheriff says". KPTV. Retrieved June 17, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ "Ferry Fire (262) Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Ferry Fire in Sherman Co. prompts Level 3: 'Go Now' evacuation orders". KPTV. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  16. ↑ Deffenbaugh, Gregory (June 17, 2025). "State Fire Marshal Mobilizes Resources for Alder Springs Fire in Jefferson County". KTVZ. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilizes resources to Alder Springs Fire in Jefferson County". Oregon State Fire Marshal. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Alder Springs Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Wolf Hollow Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Multiple agencies respond to fire on Rock Creek". The Times Journal. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Black Canyon - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.time-gazette.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Black Canyon Fire". www.mapofire.com. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Cold Springs Fire breaks out in Umatilla County's Hat Rock area". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  24. ↑ "COLD SPRINGS - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.burlingtonfreepress.com. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Elk Fire Information". InciWeb. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Elk Fire". www.mapofire.com. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  27. ↑ Collom, Liv (July 22, 2025). "Elk Fire to be put in patrol status Wednesday". KDRV . Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  28. ↑ "0523 WILLOW - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.statesmanjournal.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Evacuations ordered for Cram Fire in Wasco County as fire grows to 10,000 acres -". kgw.com. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Cram Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Incident Information -- Northwest Large Fire Information Summary". NWCC. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Fire near Helix results in engine loss for Milton-Freewater Rural Fire, firefighter treated and released". Elkhorn Media Group. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Two homes evacuated as 700-acre brush fire burns from Oregon towards Washington". AppleValleyNewsNow.com. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Fire near Oregon-Washington border contained, fire engine lost". KNDU. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  35. ↑ "BLACK HILLS - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.oakridger.com. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Black Hills Fire". www.mapofire.com. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  37. ↑ "MENDIOLA ROAD - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.shelbystar.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  38. ↑ Bagett, Logan (July 19, 2025). "Crews respond to Medniola Road Fire near Adrian". Elkhorn Media Group. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Several homes destroyed after possible suspicious fire in Boardman". AppleValleyNewsNow.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  40. ↑ "UPDATE: 5 homes, food pantry lost in July 18 fire in Boardman". East Oregonian. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Butte Creek - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.oakridger.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  42. ↑ "LITTLE JOHN - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.redding.com. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  43. ↑ "ROCK CREEK - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.clarionledger.com. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Rock Creek Fire". www.mapofire.com. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  45. ↑ "LOST TOM - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.statesmanjournal.com. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  46. ↑ "UPDATE: Deschutes County issues evacuation warnings for Flat Fire near Deschutes/Jefferson county line". BendBulletin.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  47. ↑ "FLAT - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.statesmanjournal.com. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  48. ↑ "Emigrant - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.usatoday.com. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  49. ↑ Urness, Zach; Johnston, Mariah (August 27, 2025). "Oregon wildfire updates: Recreation closure issued due to 7,600 acre Emigrant Fire". Yahoo News . Statesman Journal . Retrieved August 27, 2025.
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