The 2026 wildfire season gets off to a busy start in the Red Cross Cascades Region

three Red Cross volunteers hold up a large American Red Cross shelter sign at the front of a building.

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a sandwich board American Red Cross shelter sign at the front of a building.

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Group picture of five Red Cross volunteers.

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two Red Cross volunteers serving food in a Red Cross shelter.

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three Red Cross volunters next to the side of a shelter tent.

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July 21, 2026

By Rebecca Marshall, Communications Director

The summer of 2026 is already proving to be a busy one for wildfires in the Cascades Region and has underscored the power of community partnerships. To date, The Red Cross has opened 11 shelters, provided 55 overnight stays and has deployed more than 43 volunteers to staff those shelters. It’s a quickly changing landscape but one that these volunteers train for all year long.

It’s important to let people who are evacuated know that they are not alone and that there is a place they can go to for shelter, food, health services and disaster mental health services too. Red Cross shelters are not just a place to sleep; they are also information hubs. You do not have to stay overnight at a Red Cross shelter to get services.

It takes strong partnerships to make sure the needs of the communities are met. For instance, in Jackson County, after the East Evans Creek Fire, the Red Cross partnered with several groups to provide services including:

Upper Rogue Community Center – who provided durable medical equipment that is currently being used by clients at the shelter.
ACCESS – who provided water, food, blankets, and a pallet of snacks.
Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) – who were instrumental in providing pillows, blankets, towels, gift cards, pet supplies, and other resources.
The Landing in Butte Falls – who provided hygiene supplies and comfort items.

A special shoutout to Jackson County for providing a cooling tent right outside our shelter for pets who were evacuated with their owners and to Rogue Community Cat Rescue (https://roguecats.org/) who provided cat care, pet care, all the food and litter supplies, crates, bowls and more.

This “Community Mobilization” approach is one the Red Cross has been working on and will continue to employ as we make our way through the hotter and drier months.

This model is also being employed in Central and Eastern Oregon, an area that has been hit particularly hard. As of July 19, they have experienced thousands of lightning strikes and dozens of fires. In this area alone, the Red Cross has opened 5 shelters in as many days and has seen 5,700 people under Level 2 or 3 evacuation levels.

To learn more about these evolving disasters, download the FREE Red Cross Emergency App. If you are interested in volunteering or in donating to support this work, go to RedCross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.