Oregon wildfires: 20 of the state's biggest since 2002

Salem Statesman Journal

Significant wildfires are nothing new in Oregon’s history.

The largest wildfires in state history are actually believed to have taken place in the 1800s. But the era of giant fires started coming to an end with the creation of the Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry, which brought almost a century of aggressive suppression.

However, putting out every fire led to a buildup of fuels in the forest that, combined with rising temperatures, led to the return of megafires in Oregon beginning in 2002.

Current wildfires in Oregon: Where wildfires are burning in the state

Here, in total acres, are some of the largest fires since 2002:

Long Draw Fire

The largest wildfire by area burned in Oregon since 1900, which impacted mostly grassland and rural areas. It was ignited by lightning on July 8, 2012, and took nearly a month to extinguish, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The Long Draw Fire started on the same day as the nearby Miller Homestead Fire.

When: 2012
Where: Southeastern Oregon
Acres burned: 557,028

'Just trying to hang on': Wildfires on torrid pace, firefighter shortages possible

Biscuit Fire

This was the largest fire in North America during the 2002 fire season. Five fires formed after a lightning storm, later joining together to burn as one in the Biscuit Fire, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The fire burned in southern Oregon and Northern California.

When: 2002
Where: Southern Oregon
Acres burned: 500,000

A Sikorsky 61 helicopter prepares to refuel in Agness, Ore., as a column of smoke rises from the Biscuit Fire.

Bootleg Fire

The fire is burning on the Chiloquin Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest on Fuego Mountain, approximately 11 miles northeast of the town of Sprague River.

When: 2021
Where: Eastern Oregon
Acres burned: 413,717

Oregon wildfire updates:Erratic winds feed Bootleg Fire

Flames and smoke rise from the Bootleg fire in southern Oregon on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

Buzzard Complex Fire

The complex was made of several fires that burned on rangeland southeast of Burns, Ore. Its name came from the nearby Buzzard Butte. It was ignited by lightning and took less than a month to extinguish, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

When: 2014
Where: Eastern Oregon
Acres burned: 395,747

Holloway Fire

Scorched more than 245,000 acres in Oregon and more than 215,000 acres in Nevada. As with many Oregon wildfires, the Holloway Fire was started by lightning.

When: 2012
Where: Southeastern Oregon
Acres burned: 245,308

From Aug. 5-25, 2012, the Holloway fire scorched nearly half a million acres of land in northern Nevada and southern Oregon.

Lionshead Fire

This lightning-ignited fire burned at the same time as the Beachie Creek fire, along Highway 22, posing a threat to hikers in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness and Olallie Lake area.

When: 2020
Where: Both sides of the Cascades in Marion County and the Warm Springs nation
Acres burned: 204,469

From the archives: Growth closes Jefferson Wilderness, Olallie Lake

Beachie Creek Fire

The fire destroyed or damaged towns in the Santiam Canyon from Detroit Lake to Lyons, including Gates, Mill City and Mehama. It is responsible for the destruction of over 1,200 structures, including over 470 homes.

When: 2020
Where: Primarily in Marion County
Acres burned: 193,573

Labor Day fires:Maps show spread of Beachie Creek, Holiday Farm wildfires

Missed opportunity? Records detail Forest Service response to Beachie Creek Fire

Chetco Bar Fire

Following lightning, this fire burned in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, which is is a difficult place to fight fires, given its steep terrain, lack of accessibility and occasional high winds known; these combined conditions that worsened the fire were deemed the Chetco Effect, which has impacted later fires, such as the Klondike Fire in 2018.

When: 2017
Where: The fire burned in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, between Brookings on the west and Cave Junction on the east.
Acres burned: 191,125

From the archives: Chetco Bar Fire grows to 117,000 acres

Klondike Fire

The fire reburned in parts of the Biscuit Fire scar. The Klondike Fire was reminiscent of the Chetco Bar Fire, as the same conditions led to its progressive growth and it was also ignited by lightning.

When: 2018
Where: Southwest Oregon
Acres burned: 175,258

Klondike Fire: New blaze in wilderness sparks memories of Chetco Bar megafire

Holiday Farm Fire

The Holiday Farm Fire began during a Labor Day wind storm that quickly spread flames across the McKenzie River Valley. About 400 homes across the area were destroyed and nearly leveled the entire town of Blue River. One person died in the blaze.

When: 2020
Where: Eastern Lane County
Acres burned: 173,383

From the archives: Satellite maps show spread of Holiday Farm wildfire

Miller Homestead Fire

Lightning caused by dry thunderstorms ignited the Miller Homestead Fire, according to the Bureau of Land Management. After it started, it only took about four hours for the fire to consume several thousand acres. The Miller Homestead Fire sparked on July 12, 2012, the same day as the nearby Long Draw Fire.

When: 2012
Where: Harney County in southeast Oregon
Acres burned: 160,853

Saving southwest Oregon from wildfire: How towns prepare for the worst

The Miller Homestead fire burns near Frenchglen, Ore.

Egley Complex Fire

The Egley Complex Fire started as a result of lightning that sparked 17 fires in the area, according to a 2009 USDA assessment of the fire. Grass, brush and dry, hot weather conditions helped fuel the fires, which spread quickly and threatened the towns of Burns and Hines at one point.

When: 2007
Where: Southeast Oregon
Acres burned: 140,360

Riverside Fire

What started out as a small fire near the Riverside Campground suddenly turned into a large blaze along the Clackamas River of Sept. 8, 2020. Fifteen campgrounds, five trailheads, and nearly 33 miles of trail were damaged or destroyed during the fire. according to USDA. The fire mostly impacted the Mt. Hood National Forest.

When: 2020
Where: Primarily in southeastern Clackamas County
Acres burned: 138,054

Archie Creek Fire

The Archie Creek Fire burned east of Roseburg in the North Umpqua corridor on state, private and federal land, according to InciWeb. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it was largely fueled by a combination of high winds, hot temperatures, and dry timber and grass/scrub. The fire was part of Oregon's historic Labor Day fires in 2020.

When: 2020
Where: Primarily in eastern Douglas County
Acres burned: 131,542

Toolbox Complex Fire

This fire was started by lightning in Lake County and was a combination of three fires: the Toolbox Fire, Silver Fire and the Winter Fire, according to the Federal Register.

When: 2002
Where: Started in Lake County and scorched the Fremont National Forest
Acres burned: 120,085

South End Complex Fire

Located in southeast Oregon near the communities of Fields and Frenchglen, the South End Complex included the Krumbo Butte, Grandad, Pueblo, Trout Creek, and Black Point Fires, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildfire Service. Lightning ignited parts of the fire.

When: 2006
Where: Between Frenchglen and Fields in Harney County
Acres burned: 117,553

Canyon Creek Complex Fire

Fueled by intense winds, the Berry Creek and Mason Springs fires merged together with 10 other fires to become the Canyon Creek Complex, according to USDA. Forty-three primary residences were destroyed.

When: 2015
Where: Eastern Oregon
Acres burned: 110,262

High Cascades Complex Fire

The Blanket Creek Fire on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and the Spruce Lake Fire in Crater Lake National Park combined with five other large fires to create the High Cascades Complex, according to USDA. ODF reports the cause of the fire was lightning.

When: 2011
Where: Most of the fire burned on the Warm Springs Reservation
Acres burned: 108,154

Cornet-Windy Ridge Fire

The Cornet-Windy Ridge Fire was started by lightning and burned in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, located in northeast Oregon. The fire impacted mostly sparsely-populated public grasslands and forests, according to Climate Central. It's the biggest fire in Baker County history.

When: 2015
Where: West of Durkee and south of Baker City
Acres burned: 103,887

From the archives: Reforestation plan in motion for burned Baker County land

Photo from the Cornet-Windy Ridge Fire in 2015.

Boxcar 0410 RN Fire

This fire, also known simply as the Boxcar Fire, was started by lightning and burned in central Oregon. High winds posed a threat, allowing the fire to spread until its containment.

When: 2018
Where: Central Oregon
Acres burned: 100,207

From the archives: Boxcar Fire torches across 95,000 acres

Source: Oregon Department of Forestry

Zach Urness contributed reporting to this story