Oregon wildfires shift to suppression repair as containment increases

Major wildfires in southeastern Oregon, including the Coleman Creek, Second Flat, Bald Mountain, and Jackass Butte fires, have seen a shift in operations toward suppression repair and landscape restoration. As of August 17, 2026, the Coleman Creek Fire has burned 308,721 acres and is 90% contained, while the Second Flat Fire covers 105,501 acres and is also 90% contained.

Firefighting personnel are currently focused on patrolling primary firelines, monitoring for hot spots, and conducting suppression repair such as restoring dozer lines and grating roads to minimize soil erosion. In the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, water operations are being expanded to address an emerging hot spot near the Jackass Butte Fire.

State Representative Mark Owens, whose district covers a significant portion of southeastern Oregon, noted that this summer has seen record-breaking wildfire activity. The region, which includes Harney and Malheur counties, has faced extreme air quality issues due to the scale of the megafires.