Oregon’s wildfire emergency intensified after a major lightning storm ignited more than 140 new fires across drought-stricken areas, officials said Sunday, July 19, 2026. The Oregon Department of Forestry Complex Incident Management Team 3 and the Oregon State Fire Marshal Red Team assumed unified command of the Brewer and Box Springs fires burning north of Prineville. Fueled by hot, dry, and gusty conditions, the Brewer Fire is making rapid runs toward the south and east, threatening homes and critical infrastructure. Local sheriffs issued tiered evacuation levels, while federal land managers closed nearby public lands amid record-low snowpack and severe drought.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.