Salmon Fire Update - July 19, 2026

Northwest Team 12

Salmon Fire 

July 19, 2026  

 Fire Information: (541) 407-5475, 8 AM - 8 PM  

Total Resources: 44 engines; 42 crews; 51 heavy equipment; 26 water tenders; 5 helicopters; 1,451 personnel

Fires to our west continue burning actively, putting up widespread smoke that has been covering the Salmon and Olive Butte Fires. This layer of smoke has helped to moderate fire activity but has impacted visibility for aerial firefighting operations. An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) equipped with infrared thermal imaging flew over the Clear Creek and Buck Gulch fires to search for any remaining areas of residual heat. Helicopters aided suppression operations dropping water on both fires but were temporarily shut down late afternoon yesterday due to smoke.

Salmon Fire: Size: 1,495 acres | Start Date: July 8, 2026 | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 15% 

Firefighters continued to work improving lines around the fire yesterday, strengthening and deepening these control lines. On the western flank, firefighters removed snags along roads to create safer access as crews will be moving into the wilderness to set up hoselays directly along the fire edge. Fire crews and a masticator worked to improve fireline along the ridgeline to Dupratt Springs. Yesterday afternoon there was a slight uptick in fire behavior due to breezy and warming conditions that resulted in a quarter-acre “slop” over the fireline. Firefighters quickly moved in and secured this slopover with the support of helicopter water drops. Today, teams of sawyers will remove hazard trees near the fireline to allow fire crews to further mop-up and secure existing firelines. Hotshot crews are wrapping up handline construction around the north end of the fire perimeter and will engage the fire more directly in the wilderness. 

Olive Butte Fire: Size: 2,747 acres | Start Date: July 8, 2026 | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 15% 

Firefighters continue to build on their progress securing control lines around much of the fire perimeter, while the northwestern portion of the fire remains the most active. Last night the UAS utilized a plastic sphere dispenser (PSD) for precision aerial ignitions to remove small pockets of unburned fuels and secure portions of the northwestern fire perimeter. Hotshot crews worked steadily at the head of the fire to connect control lines between the northwest and northeast flanks. The Lost Boy Gulch remains active, and direct tactics are being scouted for feasibility and safety for firefighters. Structure protection remains the top focus as fire crews continue working to prevent the fire from moving closer to homes. As the south structure group completes its work around Greenhorn on the Salmon Fire, resources are being sent north to bolster structure protection measures at Fremont Powerhouse and the Granite community. Firefighters also responded to spot fires near the fireline, another reminder that shifting wind patterns can suddenly change firefighting conditions. 

Weather and Smoke: Temperatures will be 85-90 degrees with winds SW 5-7 mph, becoming 8-10 with gusts to 15 mph after noon today. There is a NE Oregon Daily Smoke Outlook available on the Oregon Smoke Information page that covers the Salmon and Olive Butte Fires. For the latest information regarding smoke and air quality, check AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.

Evacuations: Residents should be prepared for changes in evacuation levels as fire conditions can rapidly change. Baker County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuations for the Greenhorn and Granite communities. To sign up for notifications in your area, visit Grant County Everbridge or Baker County Alert.

Closures and Safety: There is a Salmon, Olive Butte, and Anthony Fire Area Closure. The public is asked to avoid the fire closure area for everyone’s safety and to facilitate firefighting efforts. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area. Unauthorized drone activity is prohibited under this TFR, as firefighting helicopters and aircraft cannot fly when drones are present.

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orumf-salmon-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SalmonFireOR2026 

Salmon Fire Information: (541) 407-5475, 8 AM – 8 PM     Email: 2026.salmon@firenet.gov

Blue Mountains Fire Information Blog: https://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/