Oregon County Declares Emergency Due to Wildfires

The Crook County Board of Commissioners enacted an emergency declaration on July 22 following lightning strikes during the week of July 13 that set off multiple fires in Crook and neighboring counties.

Juliette Fairley

Published: 7/23/2026, 2:57:41 PM EDT

Oregon County Declares Emergency Due to Wildfires — Crook County state of emergency screenshot (screenshot by Juliette Fairley)

A county in Oregon declared a state of emergency this week to address severe wildfires.

The Board of Commissioners of Crook County enacted a state of emergency on July 22 following lightning strikes during the week of July 13 that set off multiple fires in Crook and neighboring counties.

“Due to ongoing impact from drought and other weather conditions and limited resources due to the high number of wildfires throughout the region, the fires in Crook County continue to pose a threat to human health and safety, to public and private property (including structures), and the livelihoods of citizens of Crook County,” the resolution states.

The commissioners called an emergency special session on July 22 after Crook County Sheriff John Gautney requested a state of emergency declaration based on the county having exhausted local resources.

The blazes inside Crook County are the Brewer fire, the Coyote fire, and the Henry fire, while an out-of-county fire, the Box Springs fire, has encroached across county lines.

“The County EOC has been implemented, and emergency service responders are working to ensure the public is safe by notifying and updating the public of evacuation levels and taking all other reasonable steps authorized by law to ensure when necessary for the efficient conduct of activities that minimize or mitigate the effects of the emergency,” the decree states.

Large air tankers, helicopters, interagency hotshot crews with bucket drops and aircraft worked to slow the Coyote fire’s progression on Wednesday, according to Central Oregon Fire Info (COFI) data, while fire behavior on the north end of the Henry Fire was mostly moderate.

“The [Henry] fire is backing to the west where isolated tree torching is providing an extra challenge as the ember cast from this activity tend to start new fires in the grasses ahead of the main fire,” COFI officials said on their website.

"Initial attack responsibility is being finalized to mobilize response to any new fire starts."

The Brewer and Box Springs fires continue to see growth, according to a July 23 fire protection services Facebook post.

"Smoke from the Brewer and Box Springs fires may be visible in Prineville and surrounding areas, reducing visibility and impacting air quality in nearby communities," officials stated. "Smoke conditions can change throughout the day as winds shift. Individuals sensitive to smoke should take appropriate precautions."

Prineville is located inside Crook County and serves as its county seat.

Local officials are hosting a community briefing at the Crook County Fairgrounds inside Carey Foster Hall on Friday, July 24 at 6 p.m.