2023 Oregon wildfires

This article is a summary of the 2023 Oregon wildfire season, comprising the series of significant wildfires that have burned in the U.S. state of Oregon since the beginning of the calendar year. Fire season officially began in all areas of the state by July 1, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). , the state had recorded 1,731 fires, which had burned a total of .

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.

Outlook Fire season in the Pacific Northwest often lasts from May until October. The National Interagency Coordination Center, in its seasonal fire assessment and outlook released in July, forecast above-normal significant fire potential in the Pacific Northwest through September. The August outlook continued this forecast, predicting that "Significant fire potential will be above average for the entire geographic area in August and September. In October, elevated risk of significant fires will shift west of the Cascades due to the likelihood of dry easterly winds in autumn. By November, significant fire risk will decrease back to normal (i.e., low) for the entire geographic area as cooler and wetter weather arrives."

All Oregon Department of Forestry districts declared the beginning of fire season by July 1. The Northwest Coordination Center upgraded the region's preparedness level (referring to the availability of firefighting resources) from PL 1 to PL 2 on July 3, PL 3 on July 23, PL 4 on August 12, and PL5—the highest level—on August 19.

Impacts

Wildfires during the season caused evacuations, transportation disruptions, property losses, utility outages, and periods of degraded air quality. Highway closures and wildfire smoke affected businesses near the Smith River Complex, which burned in northern California and southern Oregon. The Golden Fire in Klamath County destroyed 43 residences and more than 40 outbuildings near Bonanza, and damaged communications infrastructure, causing loss of 911 service, phone service, and internet access in nearby areas. List of wildfires

The following is a list of Oregon wildfires in 2023 that have burned more than , have resulted in casualties or significant damage to structures, or have otherwise been notable. Acreage and containment figures may not be up-to-date. NameCounty AcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRefsMadeuceMorrow2,160Human-caused.Dillon CreekKlamath3,119Caused by lightning. This fire was allowed to burn at a low intensity, within a confined footprint, for ecological benefits. Estimated cost of suppression is $1.38 million.Hat RockUmatilla, Walla Walla (WA)16,816 Cause under investigation. Burned in grass and sagebrush, causing evacuations as it burned into Washington. Estimated cost of suppression is $663,000.Alder CreekWheeler1,551Cause under investigation. Estimated cost of suppression is $2 million.Devil's ButteGilliam2,859Caused by lightning. Burned in rangelands and wheat fields, destroying two fire engines. Estimated cost of suppression is $800,000.FlatCurry34,2422023Human-caused; under investigation. Burning partially in the footprint of the 2002 Biscuit Fire. Estimated cost of suppression is $59 million.SimnashoWasco1,280UnknownCause unknown. Estimated cost of suppression is $2 million.GoldenKlamath2,137Cause under investigation. 117 structures destroyed, including at least 43 homes. The fire also damaged six miles of fiber-optic cables and more than 100 power poles in Klamath County. Estimated cost of suppression is $8.5 million.BedrockLane31,590Cause under investigation. Estimated cost of suppression is $50.2 million.CorbieHarney, Malheur1,141Cause unknown. Estimated cost of suppression is $350,000.LookoutLane, Linn25,754Caused by lightning. Evacuations in effect. Estimated cost of suppression is $18.2 million.Smith River ComplexCurry, Josephine, Del Norte (CA)95,107 Burning mostly in California. Caused by lightning. Consists of the Holiday, Diamond, Kelly, and Prescott fires, as well as many smaller fires. Camp CreekClackamas, Multnomah2,0552023Caused by lightning. Burning in the Bull Run Watershed in the Mount Hood National Forest.Tyee Ridge ComplexDouglas7,9452023 Consists of the Cougar Creek Fire, Tyee Mountain Fire, Big Tom Fire, and Lighthouse fires.ChilcootDouglas1,9402023 Burning in the Umpqua National Forest.AnvilCurry22,170October Burning in the Grassy Knob Wilderness.Petes LakeLane3,2542023 Burning in the Three Sisters Wilderness.Cottonwood CanyonSherman2,316 Burned on both sides of the John Day River.MorganLake2,2892023 Burning in the Fremont–Winema National Forest.

Gallery

2023 Oregon wildfires

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