SISTERS, Ore. — Wildfire season is showing its teeth across the West, with major blazes raging in both Central Oregon and California’s wine country.
In Oregon, the Flat Fire continues to bear down on Deschutes and Jefferson counties, holding steady at nearly 34 square miles with no containment as of Sunday. Officials estimate nearly 4,000 homes are threatened, and more than 10,000 residents remain under evacuation notices stretching from Lake Billy Chinook to the outskirts of Sisters, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office. The fire, which started Thursday, has already claimed at least one home and several outbuildings on Gold Coach Road northeast of Sisters and forced firefighters into Whychus Canyon Estates, where they mounted an aggressive defense in residential neighborhoods.
Conditions remain difficult, with hot, dry weather and gusting winds continuing to fuel the blaze. A Red Flag Warning is in effect through Monday evening, and officials warn that isolated thunderstorms drifting north from Southern Oregon could spark new flare-ups. Governor Tina Kotek has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, unlocking statewide resources as crews work around the clock with support from ground and aerial operations.
Meanwhile, in California’s Napa County, the Pickett Fire has exploded to more than 10 square miles near Aetna Springs and Pope Valley. The blaze is 11% contained, but it has already prompted 190 mandatory evacuations and placed another 360 residents under warnings as it threatens roughly 500 structures. More than 1,230 firefighters, supported by 10 helicopters, are working the steep terrain. Jason Clay of CalFire noted that while temperatures have moderated slightly to around 94 degrees, low humidity and afternoon winds continue to drive fire growth.
The Pickett Fire is burning in the same area as the Glass Fire of 2020, which destroyed over 1,500 structures and scorched 105 square miles across Napa and Sonoma counties. Officials say today’s fire is feeding on a mix of dead trees left behind by the Glass Fire and new vegetation that has since dried out, creating a dangerous fuel load.
Across the Western U.S., a dangerous heat wave has gripped states from Washington and Oregon to Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona. The extreme temperatures have contributed to rapid fire growth, hospitalized residents, and strained firefighting resources across multiple states.
For Central Oregon residents, evacuation maps are available through Deschutes and Jefferson counties, and a 24-hour Red Cross shelter remains open at Highland Baptist Church in Redmond. Large animal support is available at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, and a public call center is operating at 541-550-4888 for updates.
As firefighters in both Oregon and California continue to push back against these fast-moving blazes, officials urge residents to remain prepared for evacuation, avoid fire zones, and monitor official channels for the latest information.
