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2025 Oregon wildfires

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2025 Oregon wildfires
An air tanker drops fire retardant on the Alder Springs Fire on June 16, 2025
Statistics
Total fires~14
Total area20,300 acres (8,200 ha) (as of June 19, 2025)[1]
Impacts
Structures destroyed67
Season
← 2024

The 2025 Oregon wildfire season is a series of ongoing wildfires that are burning throughout the U.S. state of Oregon.

On May 7, Governor Tina Kotek signed a declaration declaring May “Wildfire Awareness Month”.[2] The season is expected to be similarly destructive as the 2024 season, the most destructive in history.[3] On May 27, Senator Ron Wyden criticized cuts to NOAA under the second presidency of Donald Trump and other federal firefighting resources like the Forest Service, framing the agencies as nonpartisan and the cuts as not warranted. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has set the start date for the season as June 1, but forecasts show unseasonably hot and dry weather could start fires before the date.[4]

Background

[edit]
Further information: List of Oregon wildfires

"Fire season" in Oregon typically begins in mid-May and ends with the first rains that normally begins in late September. Drought, snowpack levels, and local weather conditions play a role in Oregon's fire season, particularly in Eastern and Southwest Oregon. During peak fire season from July to September, most wildfires are caused by lightning, while ignitions in the early and later parts of the season are related to humans. Warm, dry conditions in summer heighten the wildfire risk. After over 100 years of fire suppression and prevention of all fires, there is now an abundance of fuel. Climate change is leading to a reduced snowpack with an earlier and reduced snowmelt, so there is a higher risk for areas that receive wildfires.[5]

List of wildfires

[edit]

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
Butte Creek Wheeler 1,776 May 25 May 30 First non-prescribed or debris burn in 2025. Burned 9 miles (14 km) north of Clarno and prompted evacuations for Mosier. [6][7][8]
Rowena Wasco 3,700 June 11 June 25 Closed Interstate 84, evacuations for The Dalles, Kotek invokes Emergency Conflagration Act. Portion of Washington State Route 14 closed. At least 2,000 residential structures under evacuation notices. 56 residences and 91 secondary structures destroyed as of 6/16. [9][10][11][12]
Ferry Gilliam and Sherman 10,458 June 11 June 19 Burned in Cottonwood Canyon State Park near State Route 206. Evacuations near Highway 206. [13][14]
Alder Springs Jefferson 3,279 June 16 June 30 Quickly growing fire that burned near Crooked River Ranch on the Crooked River National Grassland. Evacuations issued for portions of Jefferson and Deschutes Counties. Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilizes structure protection resources under Emergency Conflagration Act for second time in a week. [15][16][17]
Wolf Hollow Gilliam 1,200 June 17 June 17 Started by a pickup truck. Burned Conservation Reserve Program fields and grassland. [18][19]
Black Canyon Lake 1,584 July 1
90%
 Lightning-caused. Burning near Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. [20]
Cold Springs Umatilla 2,489 July 2
98%
 Burning near Hat Rock, 1 home has been destroyed and as of July 2, 2025 15 to 30 structures are threatened. [21][22]
Elk Klamath County 2,802 July 8
7%
 Cause under investigation. Burning 8 miles (13 km) north of Bonanza. [23]
Willow Crook 4,403 July 9
30%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 20 miles (32 km) south of Paulina. [24]
Cram Jefferson, Wasco 95,731 July 13
0%
 Human-caused. Burning 15 miles (24 km) north of Madras. 4 homes and 2 other structures have been destroyed. [25][26][27]
Helix Umatilla 3,472 July 14 July 15 A brush fire started in a wheat field near Helix and burned to the Oregon-Washington border. Multiple departments from both states responded. A burn-over destroyed a Milton-Freewater Rural Fire Department engine, and one firefighter was treated and released for smoke inhalation. [28][29][30]
Black Hills Malheur 1,500 July 17
0%
 Undetermined cause. Burning 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Burns Junction. [31]
Mendiola Road Malheur 1,800 July 18
0%
 Undetermined cause. Burning 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Adrian. [32]
Kinkade Morrow TBD July 18 July 18 Four fires started almost simultaneously in Boardman, one by a lawnmower, and one suspicious in nature. The brush fire near Kinkade Road spread quickly and destroyed five homes and a former church convented to a food pantry. Multiple vehicles were also destroyed. [33][34]
Butte Creek Wasco 1,200 July 19
5%
 Undetermined cause. Burning 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Simnasho. [35]
Map
Perimeters of 2025 Oregon wildfires (map data)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Urness, Zach (June 20, 2025). "Oregon wildfires have already burned 20,000 acres and destroyed 56 homes. What's next?". Statesman Journal. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  2. ^ Sentinel, Jeremy C. Ruark Cottage Grove (May 7, 2025). "Governor details forecast for Oregon's 2025 wildfire season". Cottage Grove Sentinel. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  3. ^ Lerten, Barney (May 28, 2025). "As Oregon's fire season arrives, here's what you need to know about the three evacuation levels, and how to prepare". KTVZ. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  4. ^ Pollock, Buffy (May 28, 2025). "'This is all about safety': Sen. Wyden calls funding a top priority for 2025 local wildfire season". Rogue Valley Times. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  5. ^ "Oregon Fire Season: In-Depth Guide". wfca.com. Western Fire Chiefs Association. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  6. ^ CORSER, BOBBY (May 26, 2025). "Butte Creek Fire, Oregon's first big blaze of 2025 season, grows to 2,000 acres". KATU. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  7. ^ Plante, Aimee (May 29, 2025). "Butte Creek Fire reaches 40% containment in Central Oregon". KOIN. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  8. ^ "Butte Creek Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  9. ^ Fortsch, Tristan (June 11, 2025). "Fire closes I-84 in Columbia Gorge, 700+ homes under Level 3 "GO" evacuation orders". KATU. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  10. ^ "Rowena Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  11. ^ DePaola, Amy-Xiaoshi (June 11, 2025). "Evacuations ordered near The Dalles as wildfires close I-84 in Oregon, SR 14 in Washington". KGW. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  12. ^ Staff, FOX 12; Schacht, Spencer (June 14, 2025). "Rowena wildfire has burned 56 homes, 91 other buildings, Wasco Co. sheriff says". KPTV. Retrieved June 17, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Ferry Fire (262) Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  14. ^ "Ferry Fire in Sherman Co. prompts Level 3: 'Go Now' evacuation orders". KPTV. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  15. ^ Deffenbaugh, Gregory (June 17, 2025). "State Fire Marshal Mobilizes Resources for Alder Springs Fire in Jefferson County". KTVZ. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  16. ^ "Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilizes resources to Alder Springs Fire in Jefferson County". Oregon State Fire Marshal. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  17. ^ "Alder Springs Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  18. ^ "Wolf Hollow Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  19. ^ "Multiple agencies respond to fire on Rock Creek". The Times Journal. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  20. ^ "Black Canyon - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.time-gazette.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  21. ^ "Cold Springs Fire breaks out in Umatilla County's Hat Rock area". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  22. ^ "COLD SPRINGS - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.burlingtonfreepress.com. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  23. ^ "Elk Fire Information". InciWeb. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  24. ^ "0523 WILLOW - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.statesmanjournal.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  25. ^ "Evacuations ordered for Cram Fire in Wasco County as fire grows to 10,000 acres -". kgw.com. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  26. ^ "Cram Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  27. ^ "Incident Information -- Northwest Large Fire Information Summary". NWCC. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  28. ^ "Fire near Helix results in engine loss for Milton-Freewater Rural Fire, firefighter treated and released". Elkhorn Media Group. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  29. ^ "Two homes evacuated as 700-acre brush fire burns from Oregon towards Washington". AppleValleyNewsNow.com. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  30. ^ "Fire near Oregon-Washington border contained, fire engine lost". KNDU. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  31. ^ "BLACK HILLS - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.oakridger.com. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  32. ^ "MENDIOLA ROAD - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.shelbystar.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  33. ^ "Several homes destroyed after possible suspicious fire in Boardman". AppleValleyNewsNow.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  34. ^ "UPDATE: 5 homes, food pantry lost in July 18 fire in Boardman". East Oregonian. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  35. ^ "Butte Creek - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.oakridger.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
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