Wildfire conditions can change quickly across the Pacific Northwest. During active fire season, landowners may need to monitor more than the location of a fire. Evacuation notices, smoke conditions, road closures, fire restrictions and local emergency information can all change as an incident develops.
The resources below provide reliable starting points for property owners in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. During an active emergency, always follow evacuation orders and instructions issued by your local sheriff, emergency-management office or other responsible public agency.
Washington Wildfire Maps and Emergency Information
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources maintains current wildfire information and an interactive fire dashboard showing incidents across the state.
- Washington DNR Current Wildfire Information
- Washington DNR Wildfire Dashboard
- Washington Burn Restrictions
- WSDOT Real-Time Travel Map
Evacuation information is generally issued locally, so Washington landowners should also monitor their county sheriff, emergency-management department and local fire district when a wildfire threatens their area.
Idaho Wildfire Information
The Idaho Department of Lands maintains a statewide map of reported wildland fires. Local sheriffs and county emergency-management agencies remain important sources for evacuation orders and emergency alerts.
Landowners in North Idaho should pay particular attention to county-level alerts because evacuation conditions can vary considerably between nearby communities.
Montana Wildfire Information
Montana Fire Info provides current wildfire information along with resources for evacuation preparation, fire restrictions and wildfire readiness.
Oregon Wildfire and Evacuation Resources
Oregon provides statewide resources for wildfire incidents, evacuation information and emergency alerts. Road conditions can also change rapidly during large fires.
- Oregon Wildfire Response and Recovery
- Oregon Wildfire Evacuation Information
- Oregon TripCheck Road Conditions
Check Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality
A fire does not need to be nearby for smoke to affect a community. The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map provides current information about fine-particle pollution, wildfire locations, smoke plumes and air-quality conditions.
View the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.
Use InciWeb for Major Wildfire Incidents
For larger incidents, InciWeb provides interagency wildfire information that may include incident updates, maps, closures and other fire-specific information.
View Current Incidents on InciWeb.
Evacuation Information Should Come From Local Authorities
State and federal wildfire maps are useful for understanding where fires are located, but evacuation orders should come from the local agency responsible for your area. Depending on the location, that may include a county sheriff, emergency-management office, fire district or other local public-safety agency.
If an evacuation order is issued, follow the directions of local authorities rather than relying on a general wildfire map or social-media discussion.
Preparing Rural Property Before Wildfire Threatens
Emergency information becomes especially important once a wildfire is active, but landowners can take steps before an incident reaches their area. Maintaining defensible space, reducing dense brush and ladder fuels, improving access and managing vegetation around structures can help reduce wildfire exposure and improve long-term property resilience.
Review our Wildfire Season Preparation Checklist for Pacific Northwest Landowners and our guide to Defensible Space for Rural Properties for additional planning information.
For properties that need vegetation reduction, forest thinning or broader fuel-management work, learn more about our wildfire mitigation services.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wildfire Maps, Evacuations and Smoke
Where can I find official wildfire updates for Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon?
State wildfire agencies provide current fire maps and incident information for Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. Larger incidents may also appear on InciWeb. Because conditions can change quickly, landowners should use official agency resources rather than relying only on social media or unofficial fire maps.
Who issues wildfire evacuation orders?
Evacuation orders are generally issued by the local authority responsible for the affected area, such as a county sheriff, emergency-management office or other public-safety agency. State and federal wildfire maps can provide incident information, but landowners should follow evacuation instructions issued by local authorities.
Does InciWeb show every wildfire evacuation order?
No. InciWeb is useful for information about many major interagency wildfire incidents, but it should not be treated as the sole source for evacuation orders. Check local sheriff, emergency-management and fire-agency information for evacuation instructions affecting your property.
Where can I check wildfire smoke and air quality?
The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map provides information about wildfire smoke, fine-particle pollution and current air-quality conditions. Smoke can travel far from an active fire, so air quality may be affected even when the nearest wildfire is many miles away.
How can I check whether wildfire has closed a road?
State transportation agencies provide current road-condition and closure information. WSDOT serves Washington, Idaho 511 serves Idaho, and TripCheck provides Oregon road information. During an active wildfire, local emergency agencies may also announce temporary road closures or access restrictions.
What can rural landowners do before wildfire reaches their area?
Landowners can review defensible space, reduce dense brush and ladder fuels, maintain usable property access and monitor local fire restrictions before conditions worsen. Vegetation management cannot eliminate wildfire risk, but proactive maintenance can reduce avoidable fuel concentrations and improve access around rural properties.
Need Help Reducing Wildfire Fuels on Your Property?
Axsus Land Management works with rural and forested properties across Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. If your property needs defensible-space work, forest thinning, forestry mulching, access improvement or other vegetation management, we can evaluate the site and recommend an appropriate treatment approach based on the terrain, vegetation and property goals.