Oregon’s already devastating 2026 wildfire season is now within striking distance of becoming the largest on record for total acreage burned.
As of Monday morning, August 3, 60 large fires had burned an estimated 2,014,481 acres across the state, according to figures provided by the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center.
That puts Oregon only 67,180 acres below the state’s current single-season record.
The record was established in 2024, when wildfires burned a total of 2,081,661 acres across Oregon. With weeks of traditionally active fire weather still ahead, the state could surpass that number before the 2026 season ends.
The daily total maintained by the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center does not include every small wildfire reported in Oregon. The agency’s count focuses on large fires, generally defined as fires covering at least 100 acres in timber or 300 acres in grass and brush. Fires managed by an incident management team may also be included. NICC maintains an updated fire map, available on their website.
Five massive incidents account for more than 1.2 million acres of this year’s total:
- The Big Grass Fire had reached approximately 336,779 acres and was 19 percent contained.
- The Rowe Creek Complex had burned about 320,834 acres and was 53 percent contained.
- The Coleman Creek Fire was estimated at 264,839 acres with 18 percent containment.
- The Hay Creek Complex had burned roughly 200,292 acres and was 97 percent contained.
- The Second Flat Fire had reached approximately 105,432 acres and was 40 percent contained.
Those figures remain subject to change as firefighters conduct more accurate mapping, containment increases and incidents are combined or reclassified.
The numbers also highlight how quickly conditions have escalated. Oregon crossed the 2-million-acre mark before reaching the end of the summer, a time when hot temperatures, dry vegetation, wind and lightning can continue producing dangerous fire behavior.
The final statewide acreage will not be confirmed until after wildfire season has ended and agencies have reviewed their incident data. For now, Oregon remains just below the record — but with dozens of fires still active, that distinction may not last much longer.
Additional Sources: KATU
