The first significant wildfire disruptions of Oregon’s 2026 fire season erupted this weekend along the Interstate 84 corridor near Biggs Junction, where fast-moving flames, heavy smoke, and dangerous driving conditions forced the temporary closure of one of the Northwest’s busiest transportation routes.
The fire, which broke out Saturday afternoon in Sherman County near milepost 105 east of Biggs Junction, quickly created visibility problems along Interstate 84 as smoke drifted across the highway and surrounding Columbia Gorge landscape. Authorities temporarily shut down all lanes of the interstate while emergency crews responded to the growing incident. Multiple vehicle crashes were reported during the closure as smoke conditions rapidly deteriorated across the area.
By Saturday evening, traffic along I-84 had reopened, but the fire served as an early reminder that Oregon’s wildfire season is no longer something that waits quietly for the middle of summer. Dry vegetation, gusty winds, and warming temperatures are already creating conditions favorable for rapid fire growth across parts of the Pacific Northwest.
At nearly the same time, firefighters across the Columbia River in Washington state were battling another wildfire near Kennewick that scorched an estimated 250 acres. The blaze, identified as the Country Meadows Fire in Benton County, was reported burning out of control during the afternoon hours as flames moved through dry grasslands north of the river corridor.
Additional brush fires were also reported near Dallesport and Columbia Hills State Park on the Washington side of the Gorge, prompting evacuation notices for portions of Horsethief Park as crews worked to contain flames being pushed by shifting winds. Emergency responders requested public cooperation throughout the incident, warning travelers and drone operators to stay clear of active firefighting zones.
For many Oregonians, the incidents carried uncomfortable echoes of previous wildfire seasons that transformed the Columbia Gorge and Eastern Oregon into smoke-filled emergency corridors during the hottest months of the year. While this weekend’s fires remained relatively limited in size compared to major summer wildfires of past years, fire agencies say the timing itself is what stands out most.
State and federal wildfire officials have been warning for weeks that 2026 could develop into another difficult fire season across the Northwest due to a warmer and drier winter that left grasses, brush, and forest fuels unusually vulnerable this early in the year.
In Southern Oregon, portions of Jackson and Josephine counties have already begun implementing seasonal restrictions tied to wildfire prevention as state agencies attempt to reduce the risk of human-caused ignitions before summer conditions intensify further.
The concern stretches far beyond forests alone. Fires igniting along highways and transportation corridors have become an increasing danger throughout Oregon because they can spread rapidly through roadside grasses while simultaneously impacting visibility for travelers. The Interstate 84 closure near Biggs Junction highlighted how quickly smoke can create life-threatening driving conditions even before flames directly threaten communities.
Wildfire officials continue urging residents across Oregon to begin preparing now rather than waiting until peak summer heat arrives. Emergency managers recommend maintaining evacuation plans, preparing emergency supply kits, monitoring air quality conditions, and signing up for local emergency alerts before fire activity accelerates. State agencies also continue reminding residents that one careless spark from equipment, dragging chains, cigarettes, campfires, or roadside activity can ignite dry vegetation in seconds.
Oregon’s wildfire monitoring systems are already showing increasing regional activity entering the final days of May. State and federal fire tracking agencies continue monitoring active incidents across Oregon and Washington as conditions evolve heading into the summer months.
For travelers crossing Oregon this holiday weekend and throughout the coming months, fire officials are encouraging the public to regularly monitor roadway conditions, particularly along the Columbia Gorge, Eastern Oregon highways, and rural travel corridors where smoke conditions can change rapidly with shifting winds.