Wildfire Risks in California and Oregon Worsened by Strong Winds

Northern California and southern Oregon are under red flag fire warnings, as the threat posed by tinderbox conditions is compounded by strong winds. National Weather Service warnings are in place from noon to 8 p.m. local time, while the U.S. Storm Prediction Center said there will be an elevated – level 1 of 3 – risk of fires Monday and Tuesday. Winds in the region are forecast to be as strong as 25 miles (40 kilometers) per hour, with gusts of up to 35 miles per hour. In addition to the winds, “very dry fuels will continue to support an elevated fire weather threat,” the Storm Prediction Center said in its outlook. Related: Oregon Regulators Extend Wildfire Emergency Orders to Pause Insurance Cancellations The weather service is asking people in area to sign up for local alerts and to familiarize themselves with emergency plans. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is tracking six fires across the state. The two largest are in Monterey County. The Timber Fire, which began Aug. 8, is 21% contained after consuming 24,970 acres, while the Plaskett Fire, which began Aug. 26, is just 1% contained after burning 15,479 acres. Top photo: A firefighter monitors the Plaskett Fire in Big Sur, California, on Aug. 30. Bloomberg. Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Was this article valuable? Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article. Thank you! % of people found this article valuable. Please tell us what you liked about it. Here are more articles you may enjoy.