2024 Oregon wildfires


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 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.
NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment dateNotes
Little Yamsay Fire|Little Yamsay]Klamath6,34020 4 202413 5 2024Lightning-caused
BowdenMalheur5,7206 6 202418 8 2024
Upper ApplegateJackson1,14320 6 202430 6 2024Caused by human activity.
Long BendWasco1,02422 6 202426 7 2024
Darlene 3Deschutes3,90325 6 20241 7 2024undetermined
Little ValleyMalheur17,90126 6 20241 7 2024undetermined
Dry LakeMalheur2,67026 6 20249 10 2024Lightning-caused.
Salt CreekJackson4,1027 7 202424 7 2024Human-caused
Upper PineHarney1,0868 7 202419 7 2024undetermined
Larch CreekWasco18,2869 7 202426 7 2024Human-caused
FallsHarney151,68010 7 202422 8 2024Human-caused, destroyed 23 buildings, pilot killed in tanker plane crash.
Huntington Mutual AidBaker4,51110 7 202416 7 2024undetermined
RiverMalheur2,79910 7 202413 7 2024undetermined, near Owyhee Dam
Cow ValleyMalheur133,49011 7 2024October 1Human-caused
Bonita RoadMalheur2,72711 7 202425 7 2024Human-caused
Lone RockGilliam, Morrow, Wheeler137,22213 7 202411 9 2024undetermined
Diamond ComplexDouglas11,14116 7 2024202412 Lightning-caused fires.
OreLane, Linn3,47916 7 202426 9 2024Under Investigation.
RedKlamath3,06017 7 202412.11.2024Lightning-caused fire.
Battle Mountain ComplexUmatilla, Grant, Morrow183,02617 7 202420 8 2024Lightning-caused. Originally consisting of the North Fork Owens and Snake Fires, the Monkey Creek and Boneyard fires also merged into the complex.
ChalkLane5,99117 7 202414 9 2024Part of the Oakridge Lightning Fires Complex.
CoffeepotLane6,17617 7 202423 8 2024Part of the Oakridge Lightning Fires Complex.
Coombes CanyonUmatilla3,22417 7 202422 7 2024Lightning-caused.
DurkeeBaker, Malheur294,26517 7 20249 9 2024Lightning-caused; 5th-largest wildfire in Oregon history; hundreds of cattle killed.
Lane 1Douglas, Lane25,95117 7 202410.11.2024
Middle ForkDouglas, Klamath5,28617 7 202431.10.2024Mostly located inside Crater Lake National Park, closing the north entrance.
Pilot RockUmatilla11,34917 7 202426 7 2024Lightning-caused.
Moss MountainLane2,84917 7 202425.10.2024Lightning-caused.
208Lane11,26317 7 202425.10.2024Lightning-caused fire.
PyramidLinn1,31217 7 202424 9 2024Lightning-caused fire.
Twin SpringsMalheur2,81517 7 202418 7 2024
Horse Heaven CreekLane3,19818 7 20246 11 2024Part of Homestead Complex.
No ManLane2,14818 7 2024NovemberPart of Homestead Complex.
Whisky CreekHood River3,24020 7 202431.10.2024
Fuller LakeDouglas6,37820 7 20245 11 2024Part of Homestead Complex.
CourtrockGrant20,01921 7 202417 8 2024Lightning caused.
Badlands ComplexBaker54,56322 7 202412 8 2024Lightning-caused fires. Caused closures of Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon. Includes the Thompson and Coyote fires.
Crazy CreekCrook, Wheeler86,96822 7 202425 9 2024Lightning-caused
TelephoneHarney54,03422 7 202421 8 2024Lightning-caused fires.
DurganCrook3,24522 7 202425 7 2024
Microwave TowerHood River, Wasco1,31222 7 202412 8 2024
Camp CreekCrook1,58123 7 2024Lightning-caused.
Hole In The GroundMalheur98,97724 7 20242 8 2024
Whiskey MountainHarney4,35724 7 20248 8 2024
Cedar CreekMalheur1,54624 7 202430 7 2024
GrasshopperMalheur2,66524 7 20242 8 2024
Gilespie SpringMalheur2,55624 7 202425 7 2024Lightning-caused.
Poison CreekGrant1,06025 7 20247 8 2024
SandGrant7,58225 7 202415 8 2024Lightning-caused.
Powerline RoadUmatilla1,50025 7 20241 8 2024Also referred to as the Walla Walla River Road Fire.
Elk LaneJefferson5,1764 8 202414 8 2024Lightning-caused.
Town GulchBaker18,2345 8 202419 8 2024
PorcupineHarney6,4955 8 202419 8 2024
Soldier CreekMalheur11,0615 8 202414 8 2024
Warner PeakLake65,8665 8 202424 8 2024
DixonDouglas1,96510 8 202421 8 2024
0672 RVGilliam5,49017 8 202421 8 2024
CopperfieldKlamath3,8221 9 202416 9 2024
Conroy RoadWasco1,5001 9 20242 9 2024
Wiley FlatCrook30,1852 9 202411.10.2024
Shoe FlyWheeler26,8172 9 202415 9 2024
Oak CanyonWasco, Sherman15,1702 9 20246 9 2024
JonesMalheur7,1622 9 202411 9 2024
Rail RidgeCrook, Grant176,6612 9 20241 11 2024
SolomonHarney2,6002 9 20248 9 2024
SagehenHarney5,9532 9 2024October
Devils KnobDouglas4,1495 9 202417.10.2024
Bowman WellLake2,8536 9 202414.10.2024Lightning caused.
FirestoneLake, Deschutes9,4626 9 2024October 5Lightning caused.
ServiceWheeler23,8906 9 202425 9 2024Part of Fossil Complex.
Flat TopLake36,3626 9 2024October 5Likely lightning-caused.
Young GrasshopperLane5,3136 9 20249 11 2024Likely lightning-caused.
Buck CreekLake5,7587 9 20248 10 2024Likely lightning-caused.
Linton CreekLane1,3107 9 20243 11 2024Likely lightning-caused.
Little LavaDeschutes15,5148 9 202415.11.2024Likely lightning-caused.
PineDeschutes6,6347 10 202424.10.2024