Source
Smoke Blankets Oregon - NASA Science
Lightning storms triggered numerous wildfires in central and eastern Oregon starting July 15, 2026. These blazes were intensified by extreme drought, summer heat, and gusty winds.
Why it matters
Residents face evacuation orders and hazardous air quality across eastern Oregon. Large-scale burns threaten community safety and public health due to widespread smoke.
The details
- Over 10,000 firefighters have been deployed to battle the state's wildfires.
- By July 27, 2026, Oregon fires had burned more than one million acres.
- The Emergency Conflagration Act was invoked for specifically threatening fires.
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Key connections
NASA owns Fire Event Explorer
NASA provides the Fire Event Explorer tool for wildfire tracking
MODIS sensor is payload onboard NASA Aqua satellite
National Interagency Fire Center is a member of United States
National wildland fire support center based in the United States
NASA is a member of United States
NASA is a federal agency of the United States.
NASA makes the FIRMS wildfire monitoring tool available.
Aqua is an Earth observation satellite operated by NASA.
Related events
Lightning Storms Ignite Widespread Oregon Wildfires Tracked by NASA Satellites
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