Wildfire in Oregon, August 24 to 31, 1996

Name: Wildfire in Oregon, August 24 to 31, 1996
Start: 1996-08-24T00:00
End: 1996-08-31T23:55
Location: Oregon

August 24 to 31, 1996 · NWS PQR · 1 event in 1 county or zone

On August 24th lightning caused a series of forest fires, known as the Moolack Complex, in the Willamette National Forest east of Oakridge. 7 million dollars in damage to campgrounds and timber interests.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1.7 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PQR wrote it up.

On August 24th lightning caused a series of forest fires, known as the Moolack Complex, in the Willamette National Forest east of Oakridge. 11,375 acres were burned with 1.7 million dollars in damage to campgrounds and timber interests. The fire smoldered for almost 2 months before it was declared out on October 16.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Lane

When: August 24, 12:00 AM PST to August 31, 11:55 PM PST
Where: Lane County, 17 mi E of Oakridge
Property damage: $1.7 million
Coordinates: 43.942, -122.876 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Wildfire: A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oregon in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Oregon, August 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5572321.