Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency due to the imminent threat of wildfire. This order shall remain in effect until either the threat is significantly relieved, the fire season ends, or December 31, 2026.

Governor Kotek issued the following statement:

“Increasing heat, dry vegetation, and shifting winds continue to align and create dangerous conditions that demand immediate action. I am declaring a State of Emergency to ensure all available resources – firefighting crews, aerial support, ground resources, and emergency personnel are prepared for deployments – to protect people, property, and our natural landscapes.

“I urge all Oregonians to be alert and follow the instructions and evacuation levels issued by emergency officials, subscribe to emergency alerts on ORAlert.gov, have an evacuation plan, prepare a go-kit, and stay aware of changing conditions.

“Throughout the summer, it will get hotter and drier. Oregon has record-setting low snowpack and nearly half of our counties are facing persistent drought conditions. On average, 70% of wildfires in Oregon are human-caused. Prevention starts with every Oregonian – at home, at work, and out and about enjoying our great state.”

A link to Executive Order 26-10 can be found here.

Under ORS 401.165, Governor Kotek determined that the State of Oregon is at imminent risk of a critical fire danger situation, threatening life, safety, and property because of continued warm and dry conditions. To date in 2026, the state has experienced 414 fires that have burned approximately 8,077 acres, with multiple fires causing localized evacuations.

This declaration ensures that the state’s primary fire agencies, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) have access to the available resources necessary to fully execute their wildfire suppression missions to protect lives, property and the environment.

This declaration directs the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to activate the State’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and coordinate necessary access to use of personnel and equipment of all state agencies necessary to assess, alleviate, respond to, mitigate, and recover from conditions caused by this emergency. All Oregonians are to heed the direction of emergency officials with regard to this emergency to protect their safety.

The Oregon National Guard may deploy, and re-deploy, firefighting resources as requested by ODF through Operations Plan Smokey 2026, for the remainder of the fire season based upon threat and resource shortfalls.

In conformance with the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, any local or tribal government request for state resources must be submitted through county or tribal governing bodies to OEM.

Source: Oregon Governor's Office

Jizzo