Pacific Northwest Wildfires (July 2026)

Summary

A mid-July 2026 lightning outbreak ignited dozens of large wildfires across Oregon and Washington during extreme drought and record-low snowpack. By late July, more than two million acres had burned across the Pacific Northwest — Oregon on pace for a modern record (~1.8 million acres) and Washington surpassing any full year since 2021 (~425,000 acres as of Aug 1). Major incidents include the Rowe Creek Complex and Big Grass Fire in Oregon (each exceeding 300,000 acres) and the Kaiser Canyon Fire on the Colville Reservation in Washington (134,000+ acres). On Aug 1, Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and burn ban as NWS issued its first-ever particularly dangerous situation fire weather warning for Eastern Washington; the fast-moving Old Trails Fire near Spokane forced Level 3 evacuations and drew fresh AP/CNN national wire. Evacuations, structure loss, hazardous air quality in eastern Oregon and Washington, and NIFC Preparedness Level 5 mobilization drew national coverage July 30–31 and Aug 1. The episode overlapped in time with, but was distinct from, the cross-border Canadian/Minnesota smoke event that peaked July 15–17.

Three months assessment pending. Target cutoff Oct 31, 2026. Figures will use only sources available on or before that date.

Six months assessment pending. Target cutoff Jan 31, 2027. Figures will use only sources available on or before that date.

Scientific attribution

Long-term warming, drought, and snowpack decline increase wildfire risk and fire-season length in the Pacific Northwest. The Fifth National Climate Assessment notes Northwest forests are experiencing larger and more severe fires as fuels dry earlier in the season. Single-event attribution for complex regional fire outbreaks is less mature than for heat extremes; frame as increased background risk and longer fire seasons, not sole causation of any one lightning cluster.