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Oregon wildfires intensify, PDS red‑flag warning

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-07-29 00:20 UTC → 2026-07-31 23:13 UTC · added removed

Oregon & Washington wildfires surge, intensify, PDS red‑flag warning

The multi‑fire crisis in Oregon and Washington has continued to intensify worsen through early August 2026. The Akawa Butte Fire, sparked by lightning on July 16 near Sisters, Oregon, expanded to roughly 42 sq mi (about 27,300 acres) with flame heights of 200 feet and a pyrocumulus cloud that generated its own lightning. Governor Tina Kotek renewed its national top‑priority designation, keeping more than 1,000 firefighters on the line. A red‑flag warning from the National Weather Service still forecasts hot, windy, low‑humidity conditions, maintaining high evacuation readiness for Sisters and surrounding communities. Lightning activity remains extreme, with over 2,000 strikes in central Oregon in the past 72 hours and at least 35 new ignitions. The Hagen Fire in the Umatilla National Forest has Forest, which burned about roughly 24,000 acres. Evacuation zones in Union and Umatilla counties have been updated: acres, prompted an expansion of Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders now cover areas south of the North Fork Umatilla River and parts of Union County (July 26), and by on July 28 extend to zones cover areas north of Forest Service Road 31 in Union County and sections of NF Road 3150, Buck Mountain, Thomas Creek, Ruckel Junction, Junction and the west side of NF Road 31 in Umatilla County, with additional Level 2 “Be Set” and Level 1 “Be Ready” notices. More than 870 firefighters, supported by helicopters dropping over 100,000 gallons of water, are building fire lines notices applied to protect homes, water supplies, rail corridors surrounding zones such as Phillips Creek and timber, while a thick smoke blanket from nearby blazes helps limit growth. areas west of Highway 204. A joint Emergency Operations Center—including county sheriffs, emergency‑management agencies Center—comprising the Umatilla and Union County sheriffs’ offices, emergency‑management agencies, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation—coordinates Reservation, and Northwest Incident Management Team 7—continues to coordinate fire‑line construction, helicopter water drops and protection of homes, water supplies, rail corridors and timber. On July 31, Umatilla County issued a Level 3 “GO NOW” evacuation for residents in the response immediate vicinity of the Hagen Fire and warns that rugged terrain maintained a Level 2 “BE SET” alert for surrounding areas. The National Weather Service simultaneously issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning for August 1, citing extreme wind speeds, very dry fuels and forecast weather could cause the potential for rapid spread. Residents are fire growth, long‑range spotting and unpredictable behavior. Authorities warned that strong winds could render Highway 204 impassable and urged to stay vigilant vulnerable residents, especially older adults and those with mobility challenges, to evacuate promptly if conditions worsen. early and avoid non‑essential travel.

Versions

  1. 2026-07-31 23:13 UTC Oregon wildfires intensify, PDS red‑flag warning
  2. 2026-07-29 00:20 UTC Oregon & Washington wildfires surge, red‑flag warning
  3. 2026-07-26 19:34 UTC Oregon & Washington wildfires surge, red‑flag warning

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