Oregon Fire Map: Where to Track Wildfires and Smoke in 2026
Last updated 2026-09-22
No single map shows every Oregon wildfire. The state's fire information is split across a handful of official sources — the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) for its 16 million protected acres, the Oregon State Fire Marshal for evacuation status, the federal InciWeb system for large incidents, and the EPA/Forest Service Fire and Smoke Map for where the smoke actually goes. This guide lists each map, what it is authoritative for, and how to pair it with live Oregon air-quality readings.
For smoke conditions right now, see our live pages for Portland, Salem, Eugene, Bend and Medford.
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. See disclosure.
The four maps that matter
1. ODF fire information (oregon.gov/odf/fire). The Oregon Department of Forestry publishes active-fire data and statistics for the 16 million acres under its protection jurisdiction — largely private and public forestland west of the Cascades. This is the authoritative source for fires on ODF-protected land, including size, containment and cause statistics.
2. Oregon State Fire Marshal dashboard (osfminfo.org). Produced with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, this is where evacuation levels (Be Ready / Be Set / Go Now) and structural-protection information live. When a fire threatens homes, this is the map to watch.
3. InciWeb (inciweb.nifc.gov). The federal interagency incident system covers large fires on U.S. Forest Service, BLM and other federal land — which in Oregon includes much of the east-side and Cascade timber country. Each incident page carries official updates, closure orders and evacuation links.
4. AirNow Fire and Smoke Map (fire.airnow.gov). The EPA and U.S. Forest Service joint map overlays active fire detections, smoke plumes and hourly NowCast AQI from monitors and sensors. It is the authoritative answer to "where is the smoke right now" — the question that actually determines whether you should change your day.
How to read them together
A workable routine during Oregon fire season: check ODF and InciWeb for the fires themselves (size, containment, closures), check the State Fire Marshal dashboard only if you are near an incident and need evacuation levels, and check the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map — or our live city pages — for the smoke. Fire perimeters and smoke plumes tell different stories: a fire can be 40 miles away and still put your valley in the red, because smoke follows terrain and wind in ways a perimeter map does not show.
Two third-party tools are widely used and worth knowing: Watch Duty, a nonprofit app whose reports are vetted by trained volunteers including retired firefighters, is strong on alerts and evacuation zones; and NASA FIRMS shows raw satellite heat detections. Neither replaces the official sources — treat them as conveniences layered on top.
Oregon smoke season, briefly
Oregon's fire season typically runs July through October, with the worst smoke days usually August into September when east-side fires send smoke westward down the Columbia Gorge and the Willamette Valley traps it. The 2020 Labor Day fires remain the modern benchmark: Portland briefly recorded some of the worst air quality of any major city worldwide. The practical lesson from every season since: smoke arrives faster than fire, so monitor air quality — not just fire maps — when fires are active anywhere upwind.
When smoke arrives, the defenses that matter are keeping smoke out of your house, a Corsi-Rosenthal box or HEPA purifier running, and an N95 mask for outdoor time when the AQI is unhealthy.
Evacuation levels, in one paragraph
Oregon uses a three-level system, set by sheriffs and fire agencies: Level 1 "Be Ready" means be aware and pack essentials; Level 2 "Be Set" means be prepared to leave at a moment's notice — and many agencies advise leaving now if you need extra time; Level 3 "Go Now" means leave immediately. Official levels come from your county emergency management and the State Fire Marshal dashboard — never from a third-party map alone.
2026: Oregon's near-record season, mostly contained
Oregon's 2026 season was one for the record books: by early August, 2,244,470 acres had burned statewide — surpassing the previous record set in 2024, as KGW reported. The signature eastern-Oregon incident was the Second Flat Fire near Riley in Harney County, which grew to 105,854 acres over about a month before reaching 99% containment in late August. By September 1, the State Fire Marshal's list of active 100+ acre fires had shrunk to roughly 13,600 acres, and the season moved into mop-up.
For the Portland metro angle — why the Willamette Valley traps east-side smoke, and which map answers which question — see our Portland fire map guide. Utah's quieter but real September is covered in our Utah fire map guide.
FAQ
What is the official Oregon fire map?
There are several, each authoritative for something different: the Oregon Department of Forestry (oregon.gov/odf/fire) for fires on its 16 million protected acres; the Oregon State Fire Marshal dashboard (osfminfo.org) for evacuation levels; InciWeb (inciweb.nifc.gov) for large fires on federal land; and the EPA/USFS Fire and Smoke Map (fire.airnow.gov) for smoke and air quality.
Where can I see Oregon wildfire smoke right now?
The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map at fire.airnow.gov shows hourly smoke plumes and NowCast AQI nationwide, including every Oregon monitor. For a plain-language city reading, our live pages cover Portland, Salem, Eugene, Bend and Medford with current AQI and what it means for your day.
Why is the smoke bad when the fire is far away?
Smoke plumes travel with winds and pool in valleys, so air quality often degrades hundreds of miles from the fire while areas near it stay clearer. That is why fire-perimeter maps are the wrong tool for deciding whether to go jogging — check an air-quality map instead.
Are the Oregon fires still burning (September 2026)?
Mostly no. After a near-record season — about 2.24 million acres burned by early August, surpassing 2024 — containment climbed through September: the Second Flat Fire near Riley reached 99%, and the State Fire Marshal's active 100+ acre list was down to roughly 13,600 acres by September 1. Residual smoke can still reach valleys on stagnant days; check live air quality for Portland, Salem, Eugene, Bend and Medford.
Is Watch Duty a good app for Oregon fires?
Watch Duty is a nonprofit service whose reports are vetted by trained volunteers, including retired firefighters, and many Oregonians rely on it for fast alerts and evacuation zones. It is an excellent convenience layer, but official evacuation levels and incident details should always be confirmed against ODF, the State Fire Marshal dashboard and InciWeb.
Check the air where you are
Live AQI on the 2024 EPA standard, with the reporting monitor and observation time on every reading.
Where this guidance comes from
We paraphrase published guidance rather than inventing our own. The primary sources for everything on this page:
- AirNow — Air Quality and Health (U.S. EPA): the AQI scale and its activity guidance by level.
- EPA — Particulate Matter (PM) Basics: what PM2.5 is and why it reaches deep into the lungs.
- CDC — Wildfire Smoke Safety: who is at higher risk, and when to seek care.
- EPA — Wildfires and Indoor Air Quality: clean rooms, filtration and what actually works indoors.
- AHAM: the CADR standard and the two-thirds room-sizing rule.
Our own AQI arithmetic is documented on the methodology page.
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Some links are affiliate links — see disclosure. This guide is general health information and is not a substitute for medical advice — see disclaimer.