MEDFORD, Ore. (Oct. 28, 2026) — The 2026 fire season in Jackson and Josephine counties will officially end Wednesday, Oct. 28, following widespread rainfall, cooler temperatures and improving weather conditions, the Oregon Department of Forestry announced Tuesday.
The declaration takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, bringing the 166-day fire season to a close across approximately 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management forestlands protected by ODF’s Southwest Oregon District.
The end of fire season lifts all seasonal fire prevention regulations and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPL), although industrial slash burning remains prohibited.
Since fire season began May 15, ODF firefighters have responded to 210 fires across Jackson and Josephine counties, burning approximately 17,220 acres.
Despite periods of extreme fire danger and several large incidents requiring extended suppression efforts, firefighters kept 95% of fires at 10 acres or less, slightly below the agency’s annual goal of 98%.
Major Wildfires Marked 2026 Season
Wildfire activity began before the official start of fire season, with the Carney Flat Fire burning approximately 23 acres on May 9.
Just 10 days after seasonal restrictions took effect, the Blackwell Road Fire burned approximately 48 acres on May 25. Additional fires followed in June, including the Spencer Gulch Fire on June 14 and the West Jones Creek Road Fire on June 15.
The season’s largest incident was the East Evans Creek Fire, which began July 10 in Jackson County and ultimately burned approximately 15,580 acres.
Rapid fire growth, difficult terrain and heavy fuel loads complicated suppression efforts, requiring the deployment of ODF Complex Incident Management Team 1 and later Florida Complex Incident Management Team 1.
Firefighters spent weeks strengthening containment lines and protecting surrounding communities with assistance from local, state and federal agencies.
On July 19, the Waldo Road and Ridge Vista fires ignited within minutes of each other near Cave Junction, burning approximately 31 and 16 acres, respectively. Both incidents prompted evacuation notices and required coordinated responses from multiple agencies.
August brought additional challenges, beginning with the Interstate 5 Mile Marker 57 Fire near Grants Pass on Aug. 1, which burned approximately 96 acres.
The Woodrat Mountain Fire followed Aug. 6 in the Applegate Valley, growing to approximately 288 acres.
On Aug. 13, the Fielder Mountain Fire ignited near Rogue River, eventually burning approximately 573 acres. Intense fire activity, steep terrain along Interstate 5 and the fire’s proximity to homes and the city of Rogue River complicated suppression efforts.
ODF Incident Management Team 1 was deployed to assist with firefighting operations and structure protection.
Significant wildfire activity continued into the fall.
The Anderson Butte Road Fire burned approximately 78 acres in the Upper Applegate after starting Sept. 20.
On Oct. 15, the West Fork Evans Creek Fire ignited in the Sams Valley area, eventually growing to approximately 283 acres. Steep, rocky terrain, heavy vegetation and limited water access created additional challenges for firefighters.
The October fire demonstrated that significant wildfire activity remained possible even as cooler fall weather began arriving in Southern Oregon.
Widespread Rainfall Brings Relief
According to ODF, improving weather conditions throughout October helped reduce wildfire danger across the region.
Cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity, shorter daylight hours and the absence of persistent dry east winds contributed to declining fire danger.
Recent widespread rainfall and additional precipitation ultimately provided enough moisture for officials to end the declared fire season.
Throughout the 166-day season, ODF credited aggressive initial attacks, aviation resources and coordination among local fire districts, law enforcement, emergency management agencies and state and federal partners with helping limit fire growth and maintain emergency response capabilities.
Debris Burning Restrictions and Safety Reminders
With fire season ending Wednesday, ODF’s seasonal restrictions on equipment use and debris burning will be lifted on protected forestlands.
However, industrial slash burning remains prohibited, and additional local restrictions may still apply.
Residents planning to burn yard debris should first contact their local fire department to determine whether permits are required and whether burning is permitted.
Daily burning conditions can also be checked through county burn information lines:
- Jackson County: 541-776-7007
- Josephine County: 541-476-9663
ODF emphasized that the end of the declared fire season does not eliminate the possibility of wildfires.
Fires can still ignite and spread during fall and winter, particularly during periods of dry or windy weather.
Residents are encouraged to monitor burn piles at all times, keep water and firefighting tools nearby and exercise caution when operating machinery that could produce sparks.
The conclusion of the 2026 fire season marks the end of more than five months of wildfire response across Jackson and Josephine counties, including several major incidents that tested firefighting resources throughout Southwest Oregon.
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