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DisasterStatus

High · Inactive

Cow Fire

Possible damage: Fire

Live status, affected area, official sources and recovery guidance.

Active wildfires

Updated
High significance Inactive 100% contained Malheur, Oregon · Last updated · source: NASA EONET

Evacuations issued during this event

  • Evacuation orderUS-OR-BAK-BAB-1313Fire issued · alert expired
  • Evacuation orderUS-OR-BAK-BAB-170Fire issued · alert expired
  • Evacuation orderUS-OR-BAK-BAB-1319Fire issued · alert expired
  • Evacuation orderUS-OR-BAK-RIR-128Fire issued · alert expired
  • Evacuation warningUS-OR-BAK-BAB-1317Fire issued · alert expired
  • Evacuation warningUS-OR-BAK-BAK-138-AFire issued · alert expired
  • Evacuation warningUS-OR-BAK-BAK-143Fire issued · alert expired
  • Evacuation warningUS-OR-BAK-BAB-1200Fire issued · alert expired
  • Evacuation warningUS-OR-BAK-BAB-1208Fire issued · alert expired
  • Evacuation warningUS-OR-BAK-BAB-1315-AFire issued · alert expired
  • Evacuation warningUS-OR-BAK-RIR-125Fire issued · alert expired
  • Evacuation orderUS-OR-BAK-RCH-574Fire issued · alert expired
  • +35 more zones in effect

Historical record from Oregon OEM — alert times shown are when each WEA message was issued and expired; the evacuation itself may have remained in force longer (lift times aren't published to IPAWS).

This event is no longer active — it's kept here as a record. Recovery may still be underway; the guidance below applies.

The COW fire in Malheur, Oregon burned 7,724 acres before being fully contained on July 21, 2026. Homes in the area faced exposure to direct fire damage during the active burn period.

Overview written from official NASA EONET and National Interagency Fire Center/IRWIN data.

Type
Wildfires
Official size
7,724 acres
Containment
100%
Cause
Undetermined
Began
Status
Inactive

Affected by this event? Open your area's damage guides below to reach a vetted local restoration pro, 24/7.

Affected area map

The shaded area is the affected-area perimeter reported for this event by NASA EONET (Malheur, Oregon), colored by hazard type. Pan and zoom to explore the map; when more than one observation exists, use the slider below to step through how the reported area changed.

Interactive affected-area map

Malheur, Oregon · ≈ 12 sq mi reported extent · Enable JavaScript to explore the map.

reported perimeter · evacuation orders as issued (dashed): order warning / shelter advisory

Official size & containment

Official incident size and containment reported through NIFC / IRWIN, as we observed it. Newest first.

  1. 7,724 acres ±0 100% contained
  2. 7,724 acres ±0 100% contained
  3. 7,724 acres +1,727 100% contained
  4. 5,997 acres ±0 100% contained
  5. 5,997 acres ±0 99% contained
  6. 5,997 acres 75% contained

Shown as reported by our sources — not an official product. For current advisories and the authoritative map, see NASA EONET ↗.

Restoration help near this event

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Water damage restoration

Putting out a fire — hose lines, sprinklers, suppression — often floods the property and leaves water damage behind too.

What to do now

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Latest updates

Official updates and news coverage for this event, newest first — National Weather Service products, local storm reports, incident updates and press headlines. Official items are verbatim government text; news headlines link out to the original outlet.

  1. Forecast discussion NWS BOI

    Area Forecast Discussion

    Heat Advisory in effect Thursday afternoon through Friday with highs of 96 to 104 degrees in lower elevations of the Treasure Valley and Magic Valley.

    Show full text

    000 FXUS65 KBOI 201151 AFDBOI

    Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Boise ID 551 AM MDT Thu Aug 20 2026

    .UPDATE...Updated aviation discussion.

    &&

    .KEY MESSAGES... - Heat Advisory Thursday afternoon through Friday in the Treasure Valley, western Magic Valley, and Upper Weiser River Valley.

    - Increased chance of afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms over higher terrain Friday through Sunday.

    - Above normal temperatures next week with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms over the mountains of southwest Idaho early in the week.

    &&

    .SHORT TERM /Through Saturday Night/... Issued 358 AM MDT THU AUG 20 2026 The heat is on for the the next couple of days as an upper ridge intensifies over the area. Most lower elevation sites will see high temperatures top out between 96 and 104 today and Friday. A couple of caveats will be smoke and cloud cover, especially as we get into Friday. For now it doesn't look like smoke gets thick enough to impact temperatures (of course dependent on any new fire activity). High cloud cover later today and more so on Friday will likely take a couple of degrees off of heating potential which puts widespread 100-103 temperatures in the T…

    Read the full discussion at NWS BOI ↗

  2. News Grants Pass Tribune

    Malheur County Arson Case Brings Nine First-Degree Charges After Series of Eastern Oregon Fires

    Read the full article at Grants Pass Tribune ↗

  3. News Your Oregon News

    Judge denies Ontario arson suspect’s motion for release or bail reduction

    Read the full article at Your Oregon News ↗

  4. News OregonLive.com

    Man accused of setting eastern Oregon wildfires seeks reduction of $750,000 bond

    Read the full article at OregonLive.com ↗

Show 8 earlier updates
  1. Baker City Herald News

    Ontario arson suspect seeks release from jail or lower bail

  2. Hermiston Herald News

    Rep. Bentz: More cattle grazing could reduce wildfire intensity

  3. Wallowa County Chieftain News

    Rep. Bentz: More cattle grazing could reduce wildfire intensity

  4. Blue Mountain Eagle News

    Rep. Bentz: More cattle grazing could reduce wildfire intensity

  5. bendbulletin.com News

    Rep. Bentz: More cattle grazing could reduce wildfire intensity

  6. Idaho Statesman News

    ‘Miracles have happened.’ How a rural community is saving itself from massive fire

  7. Baker City Herald News

    Malheur County grand jury indicts Ontario man for setting 15 fires in June, July

  8. KGW News

    As Oregon's wildfire resources stretch thin, ranchers are stepping in to protect their land: 'A living hell'

Updates are captured automatically from official and news sources, and may lag the live source. For the very latest, see NASA EONET ↗.

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