Oregon Governor declares state of emergency due to wildfire threat

OREGON (KTVZ) -- Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency for Oregon today, citing an imminent threat of wildfire.

This executive order grants state responders access to all necessary resources and will remain in effect until the threat subsides, the fire season concludes, or December 31st, 2026.

The declaration, Executive Order 26-10, was issued after Gov. Kotek determined that Oregon faces a critical fire danger situation, endangering lives, safety, and property due to continued warm and dry conditions.

So far in 2026, Oregon has experienced 414 fires, which have burned approximately 8,077 acres and caused several localized evacuations.

Gov. Kotek emphasized the urgency of the situation and the necessity of the declaration. “Increasing heat, dry vegetation and shifting winds continue to align and create dangerous conditions that demand immediate action,” Gov. Kotek said. She also noted that Oregon has record-setting low snowpack and that nearly half of the state's counties are experiencing persistent drought conditions.

Gov. Kotek stated that the emergency declaration ensures that “all available resources – firefighting crews, aerial support, ground resources and emergency personnel are prepared for deployments – to protect people, property and our natural landscapes.” She urged Oregonians to be alert, follow emergency officials' instructions, subscribe to alerts on ORAlert.gov, prepare an evacuation plan and go-kit, and stay aware of changing conditions. Approximately 70% of wildfires in Oregon are human-caused, prompting Gov. Kotek to stress that “Prevention starts with every Oregonian – at home, at work and out and about enjoying our great state.”

The declaration authorizes primary state fire agencies, including the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), to access state resources for wildfire suppression missions. This ensures the protection of lives, property and the environment.

The Executive Order also directs the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to activate the State's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. OEM is responsible for coordinating the use of personnel and equipment from all state agencies to assess, alleviate, respond to, mitigate and recover from emergency conditions.

The Oregon National Guard may be deployed and re-deployed for firefighting efforts, as requested by ODF through Operations Plan Smokey 2026, for the remainder of the fire season based on threat and resource shortfalls. Local or tribal government requests for state resources must be submitted to OEM through their respective county or tribal governing bodies.

The state of emergency will remain active until the wildfire threat is significantly reduced, the fire season concludes, or Dec. 31, 2026.