Rowe Creek Complex Wildfires Merge, Threaten Central Oregon
The Rowe Creek Complex, a collection of four lightning-sparked wildfires, has merged and is growing south of Fossil in central Oregon. Over 2,300 firefighters are battling the blaze, which has surpassed 300,000 acres and is 57% contained. The fire is…
Portland, OR, August 1, 2026 —
Central Oregon is facing a significant wildfire threat as the Rowe Creek Complex, a group of four lightning-sparked blazes, has merged and is actively growing. The complex is located south of Fossil, Oregon, and is impacting both Wheeler and Wasco counties.
A substantial firefighting effort is underway, with over 2,300 firefighters currently engaged in battling the merged fires. As of the latest reports, the Rowe Creek Complex has surpassed 300,000 acres in size. Containment efforts have reached 57%.
This large-scale incident is part of a broader wildfire season across the state. Oregon is currently contending with 30 large fires, which have collectively burned more than 1.7 million acres statewide so far this season. The specific cause of the initial ignitions for the Rowe Creek Complex was lightning.
Story summarized from the original created by Abby Davis on www.kptv.com, see more information here.
