The 2024 Oregon wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned throughout the U.S. state of Oregon.
Predictions for the 2024 fire season made by the National Interagency Fire Center forecasted above average wildfire potential in the southeastern portion of the state and average wildfire potential throughout the rest of Oregon.
As of September 23, an estimated 1.9 million acres have burned, breaking the state record previously set in 2020. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) declared an official end to the record-breaking fire season on October 28.
Background
"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.
Summary By late September, Oregon recorded a record-breaking ~1.9 million acres burned—a staggering jump compared to 2023’s much more moderate figures. The wildfire season featured several megafires—including the lightning-ignited Durkee Fire, which charred roughly 294,000 acres in eastern Oregon and became the largest blaze of the year in the state—as well as the Little Yamsay Fire, the season’s first, which spread over 6,340 acres near Klamath Falls but was fully contained with no fatalities.
Spending on wildfire response surged: the Oregon Department of Forestry reported a staggering $132 million spent—more than triple the usual amount—with total suppression costs nearing $317 million, much of which is expected to be reimbursed federally. In response, lawmakers convened a special legislative session, approving $218 million in emergency funding to shore up resources and prepare for increasing wildfire risk amid a warming climate.
List of wildfires
The following is a list of fires that burned more than , or produced significant structural damage or casualties. NameCounty AcresStart dateContainment dateNotesLittle YamsayKlamath6,340Lightning-causedBowdenMalheur5,720Upper ApplegateJackson1,143 Caused by human activity.Long BendWasco1,024Darlene 3Deschutes3,903undeterminedLittle ValleyMalheur17,901undeterminedDry LakeMalheur2,670Lightning-caused.Salt CreekJackson4,102Human-causedUpper PineHarney1,086undeterminedLarch CreekWasco18,286Human-causedFallsHarney151,680Human-caused, destroyed 23 buildings, pilot killed in tanker plane crash.Huntington Mutual AidBaker4,511undeterminedRiverMalheur2,799undetermined, near Owyhee DamCow ValleyMalheur133,490October 1Human-causedBonita RoadMalheur2,727Human-causedLone RockGilliam, Morrow, Wheeler137,222undeterminedDiamond ComplexDouglas11,141202412 Lightning-caused fires.OreLane, Linn3,479Under Investigation.RedKlamath3,060 Lightning-caused fire.Battle Mountain ComplexUmatilla, Grant, Morrow183,026Lightning-caused. Originally consisting of the North Fork Owens and Snake Fires, the Monkey Creek and Boneyard fires also merged into the complex. Chalk Lane5,991Part of the Oakridge Lightning Fires Complex.CoffeepotLane6,176Part of the Oakridge Lightning Fires Complex.Coombes CanyonUmatilla3,224Lightning-caused.DurkeeBaker, Malheur294,265Lightning-caused; 5th-largest wildfire in Oregon history; hundreds of cattle killed.Lane 1Douglas, Lane25,951Middle ForkDouglas, Klamath5,286Mostly located inside Crater Lake National Park, closing the north entrance. Pilot RockUmatilla11,349Lightning-caused.Moss MountainLane2,849 Lightning-caused.208Lane11,263 Lightning-caused fire.PyramidLinn1,312Lightning-caused fire.Twin SpringsMalheur2,815Horse Heaven CreekLane3,198Part of Homestead Complex.No ManLane2,148NovemberPart of Homestead Complex.Whisky CreekHood River3,240Fuller LakeDouglas6,378 Part of Homestead Complex.CourtrockGrant20,019 Lightning caused.Badlands ComplexBaker54,563Lightning-caused fires. Caused closures of Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon. Includes the Thompson and Coyote fires.Crazy CreekCrook, Wheeler86,968Lightning-caused TelephoneHarney54,034Lightning-caused fires.DurganCrook3,245Microwave TowerHood River, Wasco1,312Camp CreekCrook1,581Lightning-caused.Hole In The GroundMalheur98,977Whiskey MountainHarney4,357Cedar CreekMalheur1,546GrasshopperMalheur2,665Gilespie SpringMalheur2,556 Lightning-caused.Poison CreekGrant1,060SandGrant7,582 Lightning-caused.Powerline RoadUmatilla1,500Also referred to as the Walla Walla River Road Fire.Elk LaneJefferson5,176 Lightning-caused.Town GulchBaker18,234PorcupineHarney6,495Soldier CreekMalheur11,061Warner PeakLake65,866DixonDouglas1,9650672 RVGilliam5,490CopperfieldKlamath3,822Conroy RoadWasco1,500Wiley FlatCrook30,185Shoe FlyWheeler26,817Oak CanyonWasco, Sherman15,170JonesMalheur7,162Rail RidgeCrook, Grant176,661SolomonHarney2,600SagehenHarney5,953OctoberDevils KnobDouglas4,149Bowman WellLake2,853 Lightning caused.FirestoneLake, Deschutes9,462October 5 Lightning caused.ServiceWheeler23,890 Part of Fossil Complex.Flat TopLake36,362October 5 Likely lightning-caused.Young GrasshopperLane5,313 Likely lightning-caused.Buck CreekLake5,758 Likely lightning-caused.Linton CreekLane1,310 Likely lightning-caused.Little LavaDeschutes15,514 Likely lightning-caused.PineDeschutes6,634
See also 2024 United States wildfires
Notes
References