Crosswhite Fire

Crosswhite Fire
Location	Wheeler, Jefferson, and Crook, Oregon
Statistics
Status	Ongoing wildfire
Map

The Crosswhite Fire is an ongoing wildfire in the U.S. state of Oregon. Started by lightning on July 15, 2026, northwest of Twickenham, it rapidly expanded by merging with numerous nearby fires, becoming one of two major wildfire complexes to emerge during Oregon's 2026 fire season, alongside the Big Grass Fire. As of October 2, 2026, the fire is 355,066 acres and 99% contained.

Progression

The fire began on July 15, 2026, at approximately 5:51 p.m. on land managed by the BLM's Prineville District, initially burning 1,500 to 2,000 acres and threatening 15 structures. The fire merged with the Pat's Cabin, Cove Creek, and 059 fires on July 19, the Box Springs Fire on July 23, and the Green Mountain and Brewer fires on July 27. By July 20, the fire had passed 100,000 acres as it, along with the nearby Hay Creek Complex, forced the Oregon Department of Forestry to deploy its last available incident management team to fires threatening Prineville. Collectively, the merged fires became known as the Rowe Creek Complex.

On July 24, 2026, the fire was split for management purposes into the Crosswhite West and Crosswhite East fires, divided along the Wheeler–Jefferson county line. Despite dozens of structures being threatened as the fire expanded, no homes had been lost as of that date. By August 1, 2026, the fire had reached 295,835 acres and was 51% contained, with 73 crews, 22 dozers, 179 engines, 12 skidgines, and 2,332 personnel assigned to the broader complex.

Response

On July 17, 2026, Governor Tina Kotek invoked Oregon's Emergency Conflagration Act for the Rowe Creek Complex in Wheeler County, after the Wheeler County Fire Defense Board Chief requested assistance and the State Fire Marshal concurred that the threat exceeded local firefighting capabilities. Kotek later separately invoked the act for the Marks Creek area of the Crosswhite West Fire in Crook and Jefferson counties.

In September 2026, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied Oregon's request for a major disaster declaration grant for the Rowe Creek Complex, while approving requests for several other Oregon fires burning the same month. Oregon senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden sought an explanation from FEMA for the differing decisions.