Just as Oregonians were gearing up for Labor Day adventures, the Emigrant Fire has thrown a wrench in travel plans. What started as a lightning strike on August 24, 2025, has exploded into a fast-moving wildfire that has already burned more than 30,000 acres southeast of Oakridge. Firefighters are battling steep terrain and dry, late-summer conditions, and so far, containment remains at zero. The Pacific Northwest is now dealing with 19 large active wildfires, including 14 in Washington and five in Oregon, burning through more than 100,000 acres. Western Oregon’s Emigrant Fire at the time of writing this is the largest fire.
To keep hikers and campers safe, officials have ordered major closures across both the Willamette and Umpqua National Forests. That means some of Oregon’s most beloved trails and campgrounds—including parts of the Middle Fork Trail, Sacandaga Campground, and trailheads around Lemolo Lake—are now off-limits until further notice.
A few favorites like Toketee Falls, Toketee Lake Campground, and the road to Umpqua Hot Springs remain open for now, but closures could expand quickly if fire conditions worsen. The Umpqua restrictions are set through November 4 unless lifted earlier.
There are now 19 large active fires burning in the Pacific Northwest. Those fires – 14 in Washington and five in Oregon – are affecting just over 100,000 acres.
— Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (@NWCCInfo) September 4, 2025
The largest blaze in the region remains the 30,500-acre Emigrant Fire burning in western Oregon. pic.twitter.com/0tE4DHmYAz
The timing couldn’t be worse. Labor Day weekend is usually one of Oregon’s busiest outdoor travel weekends, drawing families to the Cascades for camping, fishing, and late-summer hiking. Instead, smoke is drifting across the region, visibility is dropping, and many travelers are scrambling to find last-minute alternatives. Air quality advisories have already been issued for McKenzie Bridge, Vida, Oakridge, Willamette Pass, and Waldo Lake, with hazy skies stretching into the Eugene-Springfield area.
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The closures don’t just impact recreation—they also help firefighters move freely in rugged terrain without extra risk from visitors in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But there is some cautious optimism. After days of hot temperatures and nighttime cloud cover that fueled rapid growth, weather conditions in eastern Lane and Douglas counties are beginning to shift. Fire specialists expect moderating fire behavior heading into the weekend, as temperatures gradually cool and the atmosphere grows more moist. By Monday and Tuesday, forecasters say a wetting rain is likely, which could finally bring relief to fire crews who are close to completing key control lines. Officials stress that there are still warmer, drier days to get through first, but relief may be on the horizon.
If this all feels familiar, that’s because it is. Oregon’s fire seasons have been growing longer and more destructive in recent years. From the 2020 Labor Day fires to last year’s blazes in southern Oregon, communities across the state are all too familiar with evacuations, smoke-filled skies, and changing travel plans. The Emigrant Fire is just the latest reminder that wildfires are shaping when—and where—we can enjoy Oregon’s forests.
If you’re traveling anywhere near the Cascades this month, check official updates daily from the Willamette and Umpqua National Forests, have a backup plan for alternative destinations, respect fire bans, and be prepared for smoky skies.
With the fire burning in remote, heavily forested country and no containment lines yet holding, more closures are possible if conditions shift again. For now, the message is clear: if you had plans to explore the Umpqua or Willamette forests this holiday weekend, you’ll need to rethink your trip.
The Emigrant Fire 2025 has already burned more than 30,000 acres in Oregon, forcing widespread closures and choking skies across the Cascades. Officials say conditions may soon ease thanks to cooler weather and possible rainfall, but until then, Oregonians are urged to stay flexible, stay safe, and keep a close eye on updates before heading outdoors.
Stay with That Oregon Life for continuing wildfire coverage, travel tips, and Oregon outdoors news.
