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Oregon Wildfires Set Record for Acres Burned
Dozens of large fires have burned 1.978 million acres and destroyed homes, lookouts and infrastructure, officials said.
- On Sunday, August 2, 2026, Oregon surpassed its modern-day wildfire acreage record, with 60 large fires burning 1.978 million acres statewide. The milestone arrived with nearly two months remaining in the active 2026 wildfire season.
- A deep drought following a record-warm winter and over 10,000 lightning strikes in July fueled rapid fire spread across eastern Oregon. Century-long fire suppression policies by the U.S. Forest Service allowed excess dry fuels to accumulate, intensifying fire behavior.
- As of Monday, August 3, 48 active wildfires burned 1,593,379 acres, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. These fires have already cost $353 million to combat, stretching resources to maximum capacity.
- The Grasshopper Fire near Mount Hood grew to 30,729 acres with 0% containment, triggering Level 3 'Go Now' evacuations in Wasco and Hood River counties. The blaze destroyed an iconic fire lookout in the national forest.
- State data shows eight of the last 13 years exceeded 500,000 acres burned, indicating worsening seasonal trends. With roughly two months remaining in the 2026 wildfire season, officials expect total acreage to continue climbing significantly.
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18 Articles
18 Articles
The OregonianReposted by 
The spokesman-Review
The spokesman-ReviewMore than 2 million acres burned as Oregon sets new wildfire record
·Portland, United States
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Wildfires burn parts of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
In Oregon’s Harney County, wildfires have burned part of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Those fires have burned over 40,000 acres of sagebrush, riparian habitat and dry meadows in and outside the refuge, and two historical structures built in the 1930s.
·Portland, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources18
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution79% Center
Bias Distribution
- 79% of the sources are Center
79% Center
L 21%
C 79%
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