Oregon wildfire season 2026 burns record acreage despite fewer fires
In 2026 Oregon saw fewer wildfires than recent years but they consumed a record 2.1 million acres and cost over $235 million to fight.
During the 2026 wildfire season Oregon experienced 1,813 reported fires, a decline from the recent average of roughly 2,100. Nevertheless, the blazes scorched a record 2.1 million acres, exceeding the 2024 benchmark by about 13 percent. Major incidents such as the Bench Fire on the Warm Springs Reservation and the Grasshopper Fire near Mount Hood each razed at least six homes.
Two firefighters—Jason Ensign and Jesús Eduardo Olimpo Gutiérrez Toral—were killed while battling separate fires. The Oregon Department of Forestry said firefighting costs have already surpassed $235 million, with projections that total expenditures could climb to $350 million. The state allocated $108 million to the forestry department and $15 million to the fire marshal to help cover these expenses.
Why it matters
The unprecedented burn area and soaring costs highlight growing wildfire risks and fiscal strain for Oregon.
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