Lower Dry Creek Mutual Aid Fire (Oregon)

Burning across private lands in Umatilla County, Oregon, the Lower Dry Creek Mutual Aid Fire has scorched 5,000 acres at a rate of approximately 185 acres per day over 27 days, driven by tall grass fuels reaching 2.5 feet in height. Located 22 miles northeast from Pendleton and near Milton-Freewater, the blaze has been fueled by minimal fire behavior and spotting.

A Type 3 Incident managed by a Type 2 Team, the wildfire has seen a response from 159 personnel working toward containment. Human activity was identified as the cause of the fire, which has accumulated costs totaling $893,878.10.

The incident unfolds against a broader national backdrop where 2,761,076 hectares have burned across the country so far in 2026, marking a total that sits 50 percent below the two-decade average for a typical fire season that stretches from June to October.