Oregon is experiencing an intense and severe wildfire season driven by prolonged heat, drought, and low snowpack, with recent record-setting activity prompting officials to urge absolute readiness.
Emergency services emphasize that public prevention and rapid preparation are vital to protecting communities right now.
Sign Up for Emergency Alerts and Know Evacuation Levels
Wildfires can behave unpredictably and move quickly. It is essential to sign up for local emergency alerts so you can receive lifesaving information and instructions. Sign up for your county and city alerts via the OR-Alert website, and be sure that “Emergency Alerts” are turned on in your phone’s settings.
Oregon follows a three-level evacuation notification system. Always know the current levels and what they mean so you can make the best decision to keep yourself and your family safe. Make an emergency plan with your family so everyone in your household knows what to do and where to go if you need to quickly evacuate. Make sure your plan considers any older adults, children, people with disabilities, pets, or livestock in your group.
🚨 Know the 3-Level Evacuation System – Oregon utilizes a standardized, color-coded evacuation protocol:
- 🟢 Level 1 – BE READY: Pack your “Go Kit,” charge mobile devices, and monitor local news. Move livestock early if needed.
- 🟡 Level 2 – BE SET: Significant danger is in your area. Be packed and prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Leave immediately if you feel unsafe.
- 🔴 Level 3 – GO NOW: Extreme danger. Leave immediately. Do not stop to gather belongings or try to save your home.
🏡 Safe Mid-Summer Home Defense — The Oregon State Fire Marshal warns against tackling heavy landscaping projects right now, as power tools can spark new fires in dry weather. Stick to these safe, light cleanup tasks within 5 feet of structures:
- Clear dry leaves, pine needles, and debris from roofs, gutters, and decks.
- Trim plants or low branches touching your home or growing under eaves.
- Remove highly flammable bark mulch and dry grass away from your home’s foundation.
- Move firewood, propane tanks, and fuel sources at least 5 feet from buildings. [1]
🌲 Prevention and Travel Awareness
- Sign Up for Alerts: Ensure your mobile devices are set up to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts and register for regional notifications at ORAlert.gov.
- Track Local Closures: Check current highway restrictions on TripCheck and follow active public land closures.
- Prevent Sparking: Avoid dragging trailer chains, driving over dry grass, leaving campfires unattended, or discarding cigarettes improperly.
- Monitor Smoke: Keep an eye on local air quality indexes, as widespread wildfire smoke can reduce visibility and pose severe health risks.
It is important to pack a go-bag of emergency supplies long before any wildfire or other natural disaster. Take time to make a list of everything you would need or want to bring with you in case you had to evacuate your home quickly. Your go-bag should include:
You should also include additional supplies for older adults, children, people with disabilities, and pets who might evacuate with you. Store your go-bag where it would be accessible during quick evacuations and make sure it is light enough to carry.
The primary links you can track real-time Oregon wildfires, active evacuation alerts, air quality indexes, and emergency road closures include:
🗺️ Live Fire Tracking & Official Dashboards
- State of Oregon Fire Tracker Dashboard: This comprehensive live map provides aggregated data on current fire locations, sizes, and containment efforts.
- Oregon State Fire Marshal Wildfire Info: View localized incident scopes mapping complexes over 100 acres.
- WFCA Interactive Oregon Fire Map: Near-real-time satellite tracking using AI confirmations to outline expanding burn zones.
- InciWeb National Incident System: Official, highly detailed federal landing pages for specific major complex fires in Oregon.
🚨 Evacuation Alerts & Regional Feeds
- Oregon Department of Forestry Wildfire Blog: Immediate text updates and briefings on active firefighting resource deployments.
- Central Oregon Fire Information Hub: Daily containment reporting specifically targeting major complexes like Rowen Creek, Akawa Butte, and Coyote.
- Note: For immediate “Go Now” orders, check your individual local county Sheriff’s office social media channels or emergency text alert signups.
💨 Air Quality & Health Smoke Forecasts
- Oregon Smoke Information Portal: Official particle updates, current county air advisories, and tracking maps showing where wildfire smoke is expected to drift next.
Most fires are human-caused and accidental. The most common fire causes we respond to are everyday activities that ODF regulates in the summer in an effort to cut down on these types of fire starts.
Help prevent wildfires and Keep Oregon Green by following the current regulations: https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/
Every year, wildfires threaten our homes, communities, and Oregon’s natural beauty. Thank you for doing your part to keep Oregon green.