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North Cayuse Fire (OR)

Active · 97% contained · 4,887 acres · started 2026-07-04 · updated 2026-08-10

North Cayuse Fire (OR) — Sentinel-2 true color North Cayuse Fire (OR) — Sentinel-2 SWIR (fuego) True color Fire (SWIR)
True color (left): as the eye sees it.
Infrared / SWIR (right): sees through smoke.

🟢 green = vegetation
🟤 red/brown = burned
🟠 orange = active fire

Imagery: Sentinel-2 (Copernicus). Drag to compare smoke vs. infrared.

Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).

Quick facts

Location
15 Miles E from Pendleton, OR
Cause
Human
Personnel
3
Complexity
Type 3 Incident
Fuel
Timber (Grass and Understory)
Behavior
Minimal, Smoldering, Backing
Jurisdiction
BIA · Federal land

Burning across 4,887 acres of federal timber and grass understory in Umatilla County, Oregon, the active North Cayuse Fire has been smoldering and backing with minimal overall behavior for 37 days since its human-caused ignition on July 4, 2026. Located 15 miles east of Pendleton and near Mission, the Type 3 incident is managed by a Type 4 Incident Commander with a sparse crew of just 3 personnel, yet has achieved 97 percent containment while accumulating $7,600,000 in costs.

The fire's prolonged 37-day burn duration has yielded an average daily growth of approximately 132 acres per day. This incident unfolds during the region's typical fire season, which spans from June to October. Nationally, the broader context shows 2,761,076 hectares burned so far in 2026, tracking 50 percent below the two-decade average.

In context

This wildfire has been burning in Oregon for 52 days. So far it has affected roughly 4,887 acres — about 20 km². At 97% containment, the fire is nearly under control.

In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.

The bigger picture in United States

Across United States, roughly 3,021,962 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 45% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus GWIS.

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