Oregon’s 2026 wildfire season brings record costs

A new report by the Oregon Department of Forestry shows the state’s cost of battling this year’s wildfire season has hit a record high, with officials estimating the costs at about $236.2 million, as of Aug. This year’s net fire costs are “already the most significant on record,” according a preliminary ODF report. Officials say it’s outpaced the final net costs of 2024’s wildfire season by about $35.3 million to date. The estimate comes after this year’s fire season got an early start, with conditions worsened by the state’s record-low snowpack, drought and severe weather. 20, more than 1,500 wildfires have burned 2.5 million acres across Oregon, surpassing 2024’s record.

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