Salmon Fire Update - July 24 2026

Total Resources: 38 engines; 25 crews; 35 heavy equipment; 33 water tenders; 4 helicopters; 1,011 personnel

Firefighters remain on alert for an uptick in fire behavior with hot, dry, windy conditions forecasted for today and tomorrow. The fire continues to smolder in heavy fuels, which will result in interior smokes for weeks to come. Thunderstorms moved through Eastern Oregon over the past several days, and fire resources remain available to assist with any new lightning-caused fires from these storms.

Salmon Fire: Size: 1,434 acres | Start Date: July 8, 2026 | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 60% 

Hotshot crews completed the final segment of fireline along the last remaining open fire’s edge on the western flank yesterday. Fire crews will continue to strengthen this fireline using pumps and hose and are beginning mop-up operations. Mop-up operations are also ongoing in other areas of the fire where firefighters continue to extinguish hotspots further into the interior. Resource advisors are working with fire managers to identify fire suppression repair work to mitigate the impacts to resources from firefighting activities. Road graders are working to repair areas where heavy equipment has impacted road surfaces. 

Olive Butte Fire: Size: 3,011 acres | Start Date: July 8, 2026 | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 60% 

There was some increased fire activity on the northern fire perimeter yesterday, and a heavy helicopter used water bucket drops to cool hotspots as firefighters quickly engaged on the ground. With forecasted hot and windy conditions today, water drops will continue as needed to support firefighters working on the ground. Hotshots finished handline in Lost Boy Gulch yesterday and fire crews will bolster these lines to further secure the fire’s edge today. Firefighters continue to successfully hold, secure, and mop-up direct primary firelines further into the interior on all areas of the fire. On secondary firelines, fire crews continue chipping operations along roads to reduce fuels and widen the firelines. Firefighters will continue to patrol in the area of Red Boy Road and Fremont Powerhouse and continue to verify portable water tanks remain full and all sprinkler systems are operational. Excess firefighting equipment is being inventoried, backhauled, and reconditioned for other fires.

Weather and Smoke: Temperatures today will be 83-88 degrees with winds SW 10-12 mph, gusting to 20 mph. The NE Oregon Daily Smoke Outlook at the Oregon Smoke Information page 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 change. Baker County Sheriff’s Office recently reduced evacuation levels for the Granite and Greenhorn communities. Heavy equipment and fire vehicles are still working in these areas, so please drive with caution and be alert for unexpected fire traffic on narrow roads. To sign up for notifications in your area, visit Grant County Everbridge or Baker County Alert.

Closures and Safety: The Salmon and Olive Butte Fire Area Closure and map has been updated. 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: https://linktr.ee/2026.bluemountainfires