FIRE ALERT: Central Oregon Fire Provides Update on Regional Wildfires
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- More than 75 wildfires ignited across Central Oregon after more than 2,000 lightning strikes hit the region on July 15, 2026. These fires experienced explosive growth yesterday due to strong winds, low humidities and high temperatures.
The widespread lightning activity on July 15 affected the area covered by the Central Oregon Fire Management Service and the Oregon Department of Forestry. While many of the initial incidents remained under 0.1 acre, adverse weather conditions on July 16, including strong winds, low humidities and high temperatures, led to a small number of these starts growing rapidly.
The Central Oregon Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of four fires in the Twickenham area on Thursday, July 16: Red Rock, Camel Hump, Twickenham and Crosswhite. An additional new start, Incident 502, was also rolled into this command.
Today, three Complex Incident Management Teams will in-brief with local resources and assume command of the remaining fires currently under suppression. These teams include Northwest Team 2, Northwest Team 10 and ODF Complex Incident Management Team 2.
Each team is staffed with professionals specializing in various aspects of fire management, such as operational decisions, tactics, logistics, planning, finance, aviation, safety and public engagement.
Fire updates as of this morning indicate several significant incidents. The Hopkin Fire, northwest of Condon and the Deep Canyon Fire, west of Antelope, are both approximately 5,000 acres. The Porcupine Ridge Fire, southwest of Condon, is approximately 4,600 acres.
Other large fires include the Cove Creek Fire, about 3,000 acres one mile east of the John Day Fossil Beds, the Brewer Fire, about 3,000 acres east of the Brewer Reservoir and the Wilcox Fire, about 3,000 acres southeast of Kent. The Akawa Fire, southwest of Lake Billy Chinook, is approximately 3,200 acres. The Coyote Fire, south of Post, is approximately 2,000 acres and the Henry Fire, south of Paulina, is approximately 1,000 acres.
Forward progress has been stopped on two fires: the Pilot Fire, which is 80 to 100 acres at Milepost 13 on the Paulina Highway and the Connant Fire, 105 acres west of Post. Smaller incidents include the Parrish Fire, approximately 400 acres south of Spray and the Left Hand Fire, approximately 56 acres three miles east of Spray.
Interagency fire crews are actively working toward containment on all incidents. They are engaging the fires using a combination of engines, hand crews, dozers, skidgines, overhead and aircraft. Firefighter and public safety remains the highest priority during these incidents.
Three Complex Incident Management Teams will in-brief with local resources today to assume command of the remaining fires that are currently being suppressed.
