Wildfires Rage in Oregon and California, Forcing Thousands to Evacuate

Blistering heat and bone-dry conditions are fueling fast-moving wildfires across California’s wine country and Central Oregon, threatening homes, scorching landscapes, and forcing thousands to flee.

California: Flames Return to Napa Valley

In Napa County, the Pickett Fire ballooned to more than 10 square miles by Sunday morning and was just 11% contained, according to Cal Fire.

The blaze has prompted 190 mandatory evacuations and 360 warnings, with about 500 structures at risk near Aetna Springs and Pope Valley.

More than 1,200 firefighters and 10 helicopters are battling the flames, which erupted Thursday after a week of punishing heat. Officials say the fire is burning through dry vegetation and dead trees left behind from the devastating 2020 Glass Fire, which destroyed more than 1,500 structures in the region.

“The fire has been picking up every afternoon due to heat, wind, and low humidity,” said Jason Clay, Cal Fire spokesman. “Support from across California has been critical.”

Oregon: Flat Fire Threatens Thousands of Homes

In Central Oregon, the Flat Fire has exploded to nearly 34 square miles, forcing 1,000 households to evacuate immediately and placing another 3,000 under evacuation notices.

The fire is burning through dry grasses, juniper trees, and steep canyon terrain, making containment difficult. Several homes have already been lost, and officials are working to confirm the extent of the damage.

“We’re facing triple-digit heat, low humidity, and difficult terrain,” said Jason Carr, spokesman for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. “Even isolated thunderstorms could push the fire in unpredictable directions.”

A Broader Climate Warning

The wildfires come amid a dangerous heat wave across the western U.S., with scorching temperatures stretching from Washington and Oregon to Nevada, Arizona, and Southern California. Some residents have been hospitalized from heat-related illnesses.

While no single fire can be directly pinned on climate change, scientists warn that rising global temperatures are making heat waves, droughts, and wildfires more extreme.

The Fight Ahead

With more hot, dry, and windy days in the forecast, firefighters in both states face an uphill battle. Communities that lived through past infernos like the Glass Fire know too well what’s at stake: homes, livelihoods, and lives.