SALEM, Ore. (May. 6, 2026) — Governor Tina Kotek received a detailed wildfire preparedness briefing Tuesday from state emergency and fire officials, warning that Oregon could face a severe 2026 wildfire season fueled by worsening drought conditions, record-low snowpack and forecasts for hotter, drier weather.
Following the briefing, Kotek signed a proclamation declaring May 2026 as Wildfire Awareness Month and urged residents across the state to prepare now for increased wildfire danger in the months ahead.
“Oregon is facing severe drought conditions, with nine counties already under emergency declarations,” Kotek said in a statement. “Compounding these conditions is our record-setting low snowpack, all of which lend to serious risk for a challenging wildfire season.”
She said the state is coordinating across local, Tribal, state and federal agencies ahead of the season, while emphasizing that residents also play a key role in reducing wildfire risks.
“Each fire season calls for sacrifice, courage, and cooperation from everyone involved,” Kotek said. “We are ready, we are coordinated, and we are all-hands-on-deck as we prepare for the season.”
The briefing was held at the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal headquarters, where specialized emergency response equipment, including communication trailers and Incident Command Vehicles, is maintained for deployment during major fire events under Oregon’s Conflagration Act. The law allows the state to mobilize firefighting resources from local departments when communities are threatened by wildfire.
Officials said current environmental conditions point toward elevated wildfire risks throughout the summer and fall. Experts cited limited snowpack, expanding drought conditions and the possibility of a strong El Niño weather pattern as major concerns. Thunderstorms capable of producing lightning with little rainfall could further increase the chance of wildfire ignitions.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting above-normal temperatures and below-average precipitation through October. Fire officials said the risk of significant wildfires is expected to rise east of the Cascade Range beginning in June before expanding into southwestern Oregon later in the summer.
The state saw more than 2,700 wildfires across jurisdictions in 2025, well above the 10-year average of about 2,000 fires annually. However, those fires burned approximately 330,000 acres statewide, significantly lower than the 10-year average of more than 700,000 acres.
State officials highlighted continued investments in wildfire detection and response systems aimed at keeping fires small through rapid response.
The Oregon Department of Forestry is responsible for wildfire protection across 16 million acres and relies on a three-part strategy focused on prevention, detection and aggressive initial attack. The agency operates a statewide wildfire camera network, aviation resources and a multi-mission aircraft designed to identify fires quickly and direct crews to emerging incidents.
The department also maintains approximately 800 personnel and more than 300 engines, tenders, bulldozers and other firefighting equipment statewide. Additional support can be requested through partnerships with the Oregon Military Department and out-of-state firefighting agencies.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office coordinates statewide structure protection through partnerships with more than 300 local fire departments. Its Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System responded to eight conflagrations in 2025.
Officials also emphasized community preparedness and mitigation efforts, saying more than 6,300 defensible space assessments have already been completed statewide to help property owners reduce wildfire risks around homes and buildings.
Emergency management agencies encouraged residents to take preventative steps now, including clearing debris from roofs and gutters, trimming vegetation near homes, moving firewood and combustible materials away from structures and maintaining defensible space around properties.
Residents were also advised to prepare evacuation plans, sign up for emergency alerts through OR-Alert and monitor smoke and air quality conditions during fire season through the federal AirNow program.
The Governor’s Office said preventing human-caused fires will remain critical as Oregon enters what could become one of its more dangerous wildfire seasons in recent years.
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