With critical fire danger statewide, governor declares state of emergency

from the Office of the Governor, State of Oregon

The governor of Oregon declared a state of emergency due to the imminent threat of wildfire beginning on July 16, 2025, lasting through the calendar year.

“Oregon is already experiencing a devastating wildfire season that will have lasting consequences. The summer is only getting hotter, drier, and more dangerous – we have to be prepared for worsening conditions,” said Gov. Tina Kotek. “I am declaring a state of emergency to access state resources for communities across Oregon as we respond to this year’s escalating wildfire season. All Oregonians should follow local instructions and evacuation levels issued by emergency officials, subscribe to emergency alerts on ORAlert.gov, have an evacuation plan, prepare a go-kit, and stay aware of changing conditions.”

Executive Order 25-16 states, “Following ORS 401.165 et seq., the governor determined that Oregon is in a critical fire danger situation, threatening life, safety, and property because of extreme high temperatures.”

The state has already experienced wildfires this season resulting in six state conflagration declarations and two federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declarations, several community evacuations, threatened and damaged structures, and critical infrastructure.

Oregon’s neighboring states of California, Idaho, and Washington continue to experience similar fires and weather. The extended weather forecast for Oregon predicts ongoing warm and dry conditions, creating an imminent fire threat across a large portion of the state.

This declaration directs Oregon state agencies to support access to and use of personnel and equipment of all state agencies, including the deployment of the National Guard, necessary to assess, alleviate, respond to, lessen, or recover from conditions caused by this emergency and to meet requests by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), and/or county and sovereign tribal nation emergency management to support response needs to respond to or lessen the effects of, the wildfire emergency as described in the state’s Emergency Operations Plan.

The executive order also states: “The Oregon National Guard will deploy, and redeploy, firefighting resources as needed and in accordance with Operations Plan Smokey 2025 throughout the remainder of fire season based upon threat and resource shortfalls.” 

Those who believe they have been charged excessively high prices for essential consumer goods during this emergency are encouraged to report violations to the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection Services, which has the authority to investigate unlawful trade practices.