2025 Oregon wildfires


The 2025 Oregon wildfire season is a series of ongoing wildfires that are burning throughout the U.S. state of Oregon.
On May 7, Governor Tina Kotek signed a declaration declaring May “Wildfire Awareness Month”. The season is expected to be similarly destructive as the 2024 season, the most destructive in history. On May 27, Senator Ron Wyden criticized cuts to NOAA under the second presidency of Donald Trump and other federal firefighting resources like the Forest Service, framing the agencies as nonpartisan and the cuts as not warranted. The Oregon Department of Forestry has set the start date for the season as June 1, but forecasts show unseasonably hot and dry weather could start fires before the date.

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.

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than, or produced significant structural damage or casualties.
NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment dateNotes
Butte CreekWheeler25 5 202530 5 2025First non-prescribed or debris burn in 2025. Burned north of Clarno and prompted evacuations for Mosier.
RowenaWasco11 6 202525 6 2025Closed Interstate 84, evacuations for The Dalles, Kotek invokes Emergency Conflagration Act. Portion of Washington State Route 14 closed. At least 2,000 residential structures under evacuation notices. 56 residences and 91 secondary structures destroyed as of 6/16.
FerryGilliam and Sherman11 6 202519 6 2025Burned in Cottonwood Canyon State Park near State Route 206. Evacuations near Highway 206.
Alder SpringsJeffersonJune 1630 6 2025Quickly growing fire that burned near Crooked River Ranch on the Crooked River National Grassland. Evacuations issued for portions of Jefferson and Deschutes Counties. Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilizes structure protection resources under Emergency Conflagration Act for second time in a week.
Wolf HollowGilliam17 6 202517 6 2025Started by a pickup truck. Burned Conservation Reserve Program fields and grassland.
Black CanyonLake1 7 20255 7 2025Lightning-caused. Burned near Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge.
Cold SpringsUmatilla2 7 2025Burning near Hat Rock, 1 home has been destroyed and as of July 2, 2025 15 to 30 structures are threatened.
ElkKlamath County8 7 20256 8 2025Cause under investigation. Burned north of Bonanza. Prompted a closure area for parts of Fremont-Winema National Forest.
WillowCrook9 7 20254 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burned south of Paulina.
CramJefferson, Wasco13 7 202529 7 2025Human-caused. Burning north of Madras. 4 homes and 2 other structures have been destroyed.
HelixUmatilla14 7 202515 7 2025A brush fire started in a wheat field near Helix and burned to the Oregon-Washington border. Multiple departments from both states responded. A burn-over destroyed a Milton-Freewater Rural Fire Department engine, and one firefighter was treated and released for smoke inhalation.
Black HillsMalheur17 7 202519 7 2025Undetermined cause. Burned southeast of Burns Junction.
Mendiola RoadMalheur18 7 202519 7 2025Undetermined cause. Burned west of Adrian.
KinkadeMorrow18 7 202518 7 2025Four fires started almost simultaneously in Boardman, one by a lawnmower, and one suspicious in nature. The brush fire near Kinkade Road spread quickly and destroyed five homes and a former church convented to a food pantry. Multiple vehicles were also destroyed.
Butte CreekWasco19 7 2025Undetermined cause. Burning northeast of Simnasho.
Little JohnMalheur27 7 20254 8 2025Unknown cause. Burned west of Arock.
Rock CreekMalheur29 7 20254 8 2025Unknown cause. Burned southwest of Jordan Valley.
Lost TomMalheur29 7 202531 7 2025Unknown cause. Burned west of Huntington.
FlatJefferson21 8 2025Human-caused. Started west of Culver in hot, windy conditions. Three structural tasks forces sent under Conflagration act.
EmigrantLane, Douglas24 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burning northwest of Oakridge. Closed several recreational sites.
Marks CreekCrook2 9 2025Unknown cause. Burning east of Prineville. Prompted evacuations and closed part of Ochoco National Forest.
BackboneCurry3 9 2025Lightning-caused. Threatening the Brushy Bar Lodge near the Rogue River. Part of the Moon Complex.
Kelsey PeakCurry, Josephine3 9 2025Lightning-caused. Burning west of Glendale.
PinnacleCurry3 9 2025Lightning-caused. Threatened the Half Moon Lodge near the Rogue River. Part of the Moon Complex.
Black RockWasco4 9 2025Lightning-caused. Threatened thirty-five homes about west of Fossil.