Wildfire Season in Oregon

What used to be summer is now something else entirely.

In Oregon, summer used to mean barefoot days, warm breezes, and golden light stretching late into the evening. And in some ways, it still does—but only for half the time. The first part of the season still feels like the summers I grew up with. We swim, we raft, we live at the rivers. We grill, we gather, we soak it all in. But then, without fail, it shifts. The skies darken—not with rain, but with smoke. The air turns thick, and the season we waited all year for suddenly feels like something we have to escape from.

It didn’t used to be like this. When I was a kid, we had summer. Just summer. There were hot days, sure, but the skies were blue, and the air was clean. Now, every year, it feels like the season gets shorter. We only get half the summer to enjoy the beauty of our valley before smoke rolls in and chases us indoors.

The fires feel more frequent, more destructive, more devastating than ever. And when they come, the smoke follows. It creeps into everything. You can smell it in your clothes, your car, even your dreams. It turns sunsets into hazy orange warnings and makes the simple act of breathing outside a health risk.

It’s not just nature that suffers—our routines, work, and lives get disrupted too. We’ve had days where we couldn’t even open the gym because we literally couldn’t keep the smoke from filling the air. And let’s be honest—it’s not safe to be in, let alone flipping around and doing gymnastics in it.

But it goes far beyond closures. People are forced to evacuate their homes, gather their families, find safe places for their animals and livestock. They leave in fear, not knowing if they’ll ever return to their home, their land, the place their memories live. It’s heartbreaking—and for some, it’s deeply traumatizing. The emotional toll of living in a place where you’re constantly waiting for the next evacuation notice, the next fire line, the next loss—that stays with people. It’s something we don’t talk about enough.

We hear about fires throughout California—like the Paradise fire—that completely wiped out an entire town. People died. People couldn’t get out soon enough. And we don’t think that will happen to us, but the truth is… it could. I try not to live in fear, but at some point, you have to face the reality of what could potentially happen. It’s scary. It’s sobering. And it’s a reminder that no place is immune.

Just yesterday, a house fire broke out in the mountains nearby—right between my house and my family’s. It’s unsettling, to say the least. Thankfully, there are routes to get around it, but the thought of it sitting there, so close to home, is hard to shake. Fires used to feel like something that happened “somewhere else.” Now they’re right here. They’re part of our summer reality.

There’s a grief that comes with it. A quiet mourning for the version of summer we used to know. For the hikes we don’t take, the patio dinners that get canceled, the kids who can’t play outside. We become trapped inside during a season that once called us out to explore.

I don’t have a tidy ending for this. Only a heavy heart and a hope that somehow, we find a way to protect what’s left. That we keep showing up for this place we love, even when it breaks our hearts a little more each year.

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If You’re Living Through wildFire Season Too…

You’re not alone. Whether you’re watching the skies, packing a go bag just in case, or staying indoors more than you’d like—this is hard, and it’s okay to name that. If you’re looking for ways to stay safe or feel more prepared, here are a few resources that can help:

🌲 Watch Duty App
A free, real-time wildfire alert system powered by volunteers and retired first responders. It provides accurate, live updates on active fires in your area—and that can make all the difference when every second counts.
Download here →

🚨 Be Aware of Evacuation Zones
Evacuation zones can change quickly, sometimes without much warning. Fires shift, winds change, and areas thought to be safe can suddenly be in danger. That’s why apps like Watch Duty are so critical. Staying informed and connected can save lives—yours, your family’s, and your neighbors’.

💨 Air Quality Trackers

• AirNow.gov – Official U.S. air quality reports by ZIP code
• PurpleAir – Real-time sensor map for hyperlocal AQI readings
• IQAir – Offers detailed info and global coverage through their app

📦 Evacuation Plan Checklist

• Keep a go-bag ready with essentials (meds, chargers, ID, snacks, water, pet supplies)
• Plan multiple evacuation routes
• Designate a contact person outside your area
• Make copies (digital or physical) of important documents
• Don’t forget a list of emergency contacts and shelter locations

🏠 Shelter & Emergency Info

• American Red Cross – Find a Shelter
• 211.org – Connects you to local assistance and emergency housing
• Check with your county’s emergency management site for fire-specific alerts, shelters, and evacuation zones

Even just having a plan in place can ease some of the mental load that comes with this season. Stay safe. Stay grounded. And take care of your people.