BIG GRASS

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The BIG GRASS Fire ignited from a lightning strike on Thursday, July 23, 2026. It started approximately 25 miles southwest of Jordan Valley in Malheur County, Oregon, near the Idaho border.
Size and Containment: As of July 31, 2026, the fire has burned 304,237 acres and is currently 21% contained.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: Burning primarily in high-desert rangeland, the fire has been heavily fueled by dry, two-foot brush and native grasses. Over the last 72 hours, the fire has exhibited extreme behavior with rapid rates of spread, flanking, and single-tree torching. The blaze notably expanded across the state line, crossing the Owyhee River into Owyhee County, Idaho, where it is burning across open desert and rugged terrain.
Containment Efforts: Fire crews are implementing an aggressive full-suppression strategy. A Type 1 Incident Complex Incident Management Team is overseeing the response, with 551 personnel currently assigned to the incident. Resources include 8 hand crews, 29 dozers, 71 engines, 11 water tenders, and 3 helicopters. Firefighters are prioritizing constructing and improving containment lines west of Triangle Flat and south of Flint Creek Road, utilizing water-dropping helicopters and air retardant drops in steep, inaccessible areas.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: The Owyhee County Sheriff has issued Level 3 ("GO NOW") evacuation orders for Triangle Reservoir, Pleasant Valley, South Mountain, Pleasant Valley Road to the City of Triangle, City of Triangle to the Triangle Reservoir, Flint Creek Road, Point Creek Road, Juniper Mountain Road, and the western portion of Mud Flat Road. Jordan Valley is also under evacuation orders. Residents are instructed to evacuate using Pleasant Valley Road toward Jordan Valley before traveling north on US Highway 95 away from the fire.
Evacuation Warnings: Silver City is currently under a Level 2 ("SET") status. A Level 1 ("READY") status has been issued for Malheur County zones MAH-E063, MAH-E061, JOJ-E004, and JOJ-E003.
Evacuation Shelters and Information: Fire officials are hosting a community gathering on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Owyhee County Museum & Library (17085 Basey Street, Murphy, ID) to provide an overview of the fire situation and answer questions.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has temporarily closed access to the North Fork Campground along Juniper Mountain Road.
• The entire area south of Trout Creek Road and Silver City Road to the East Fork and Main Stem of the Owyhee River, and from the Oregon border east to Highway 78 and Highway 51, is temporarily closed to ensure public and firefighter safety.

For more information, visit:

• Malheur County Emergency Management
• Owyhee County Sheriff's Office
• Oregon Department of Transportation - TripCheck

Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: There has been 1 injury reported in connection with the BIG GRASS Fire. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported.
Structures Impacted: The massive blaze currently threatens 615 residential structures and 820 minor structures. Fire crews are actively working on structure protection, and no residential structures have been reported destroyed at this time.
School and Business Closures: Local agricultural and ranching operations have been severely disrupted and effectively shut down in the fire's path.
Notable Impacts: The fire has crossed state lines into Idaho, heavily impacting local rangelands and threatening communities and transportation routes in both Malheur County, Oregon, and Owyhee County, Idaho.

Safety Concerns:
Power Outages: Local authorities warn that power may be out in some evacuated and impacted areas.
Air Quality: Wildfire smoke is causing persistent haze and significantly degraded air quality across the region, impacting communities far beyond the fire perimeters. Residents are advised to stay indoors and use air purifiers if possible.
Fire Restrictions: Extreme hot and dry conditions persist, making the landscape highly susceptible to new ignitions. Residents should exercise extreme caution.

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: Firefighters are currently focusing on reinforcing containment lines west of Triangle Flat and south of Flint Creek Road. As containment is achieved in these priority zones, resources will be shifted to the southeast perimeter near the Owyhee River to begin further line construction. All other areas around the perimeter currently have limited fire activity and are being continuously monitored.
Weather and Wind Warnings: A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening. A dry cold front is anticipated to move into the area, bringing stronger winds and critically low relative humidity, which could exacerbate fire behavior and challenge existing containment lines.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: The BIG GRASS Fire was ignited by a lightning strike on July 23, 2026.
Weather and Climate: The fire is being heavily fueled by extreme fire weather conditions, including high temperatures and critically low relative humidity. Persistent drought conditions in Eastern Oregon and Idaho have profoundly dried out the high-desert brush and native grasses, creating a highly combustible landscape that is susceptible to explosive fire growth and rapid spread.

For more information, visit:

• Oregon Department of Forestry Wildfire Updates
• Idaho Department of Lands - Fire Information
• Watch Duty Wildfire Map