North Pole Fire (Oregon)

Burning through timber with litter and understory, the active North Pole Fire has expanded to 310 acres since starting on August 22, 2026, averaging approximately 103 acres per day over its three days of burning in Baker County, Oregon. Located 18 miles southwest of Baker City, the federal incident on USFS land displays extreme fire behavior, including crowning, torching, and spotting. Satellites are picking up 43 heat detections in the 48-hour window, illustrating the spread of the front.

With zero containment reported, the Type 2 incident is managed by a Type 3 Team coordinating 81 personnel, while operations have accumulated a cost of 20,000 USD. The wider context of the country shows 3,005,648 hectares burned so far in 2026, tracking 45% below the two-decade average during a typical fire season that spans from June to October.