1/8 Californians live in a Wildfire Risk: California and Oregon with the First Major Wildfires of the Season
Marek Kučera 
🔥 Wildfires Across California & Oregon – June 2025
California Wildfires
As of June 12, 2025, California has experienced a total of 2,353 wildfires, burning ~76,000 acres, with 30 fatalities and over 16,000 structures destroyed
Major active fires include:
- Ranch Fire (San Bernardino County): ~4,293 acres, 50% contained (started 6/10)
- Hudson Fire (Kern County): ~624 acres, 15% contained (started 6/12)
- Firestone Fire (Fresno County): ~483 acres, 25% contained (started 6/12)
🔥 Context & Impacts:
- The 2025 season began early on January 7, driven by a Santa Ana wind event, igniting destructive fires like the Palisades and Eaton Fires in the Los Angeles region
- Eaton Fire (Jan 2025): ~14,021 acres burned, 18 fatalities, ~9,418 structures destroyed
- An analysis shows 1 in 8 Californians now live in very high fire-risk zones, driven by climate-enhanced drying and vegetation build-up
Oregon Wildfires
The Rowena Fire, now at 3,831–3,500 acres along the Columbia River Gorge, continues to burn 0% contained, prompting evacuations and closing I‑84
- At least 20 homes destroyed, and over 700 homes evacuated, with weak winds exacerbating the spread
- The wildfire warnings prompted Governor Kotek to invoke the Emergency Conflagration Act, mobilizing resources and temporary shelters
- The Ferry Fire (Gilliam/Sherman) covers ~9,107 acres, also triggering “go now” evacuation orders near Highway 206
⚠️ Season Outlook:
- With 34% of the state experiencing abnormally dry conditions and 18% in declaration-level drought, Oregon is heading into a dangerous fire season
- A 50–60% chance of above-average temperatures from June to September could worsen drought and fire risk
🔍 Broader Context & Key Insights
- California’s early-season fires highlight climate-driven dryness and persistent Santa Ana winds .
- Underestimation of fire spread—e.g. SCE’s model mispredicted the Eaton Fire’s size by a factor of ten—reveals gaps in modeling urban-wildland fire behavior
- In the Pacific Northwest, rapid snowmelt and climate change are depleting moisture earlier, intensifying fire risk
- U.S. readiness is challenged by underfunded firefighting agencies, federal cuts, and overlapping wildfire demands in Canada .
- Public health is at risk from smoke and respiratory impacts, with record acreage burned and increasing wildfire frequency .
👇 What You Should Know
- Expect expanded evacuations, road closures, and high fire danger advisories statewide.
- Prioritize fire preparedness: evacuation plans, defensible space, smoke filters, and weather updates.
- Watch for red flag warnings, especially in southern and inland areas of California and Oregon.
Wildfires in Oregon. Source: apple.news
