Drought and wildfire in 2026: water and smoke readiness

ABC News reports that drought and wildfires have hit the United States hard in 2026. Jefferson Public Radio reports on the fire situation in Oregon.

What happened

ABC News reported on May 27 that nearly two-thirds of the U.S. was in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. As of May 22, the National Interagency Fire Center counted 29,023 wildfires burning more than 2.3 million acres. By July 30, Jefferson Public Radio reported that Oregon had nearly 1.8 million acres burned, with at least 24,000 people under some level of evacuation order.

What it means for your home

Stored water and clean indoor air are useful in dry, smoky seasons. Fire season can also bring evacuation orders: at least 24,000 people in Oregon were under some level of one by July 30, so a packed bag and a plan save time.

What to do this week

• Store drinking water for at least a few days per person.
• Pack a go-bag with medicines, copies of documents, a charger and N95 masks.
• Sign up for your county's emergency and evacuation alerts.
• Learn two ways out of your neighborhood.
• Keep a water filter on hand in case your supply ever becomes unsafe.

For water safety steps, read Make water safe to drink.