Oregon's iconic Painted Hills are closed after being CHARRED by wildfire

Published: 21:28, 29 July 2026 | Updated: 21:29, 29 July 2026 The iconic Painted Hills have been closed after Oregon wildfires left the national monument and its surrounding land charred. The area, which is part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, was shut down by the National Park Service after the Rowe Creek complex fire forced evacuations on July 17. The burns within the hills mosaic pattern were reported by Rowe Creek Complex as being 'low to moderate severity.' 'Some of the grass at the top of the land forms burned, but the hills themselves are devoid of flammable material. The most significant impacts are at Leaf Hill, where trees and protective fencing along the trail have burned.' However, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an Air Quality Advisory for the Painted Hills Unit on July 27. 'Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition.'  Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5, which consists of microscopic particles of toxic compounds, small enough to penetrate human tissue and cause breathing issues. PM2.5 also raises heart attack risks.   Several counties across Idaho and Oregon will remain under air quality warnings through Friday, while others are expected to be in the danger zone until the fires are brought under control. The iconic Painted Hills, part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, was shut down by the National Park Service after the Rowe Creek complex fire forced evacuations on July 17 The severity of burns within the hill have been reported to have been 'low to moderate' but the area remains closed as an Air Quality Advisory was issued July 27 The Painted Hills have been a popular sightseeing destination, identifiable by varied stripes of red, tan, orange, and black that line its mounds of claystone soil Northwest Team 2 Operations Section Chief Thadd Niebel provided an update on July 29 mentioning the timeframe of the progress in various affected areas.  When focusing on the Painted Hills area, Niebel stated it 'might be a couple of days before they can really get that to containment.'   The Painted Hills have been a popular sightseeing destination, identifiable by varied stripes of red, tan, orange and black that line its mounds of claystone soil.  It also contains a diverse assemblage of leaf fossils ranging 30 to 39 million years old called the Bridge Creek Flora. The John Day Fossil Beds holds many other natural attractions, including Blue Basin and the fossils at Clarno, as well as attractions like the Thomas Condon Visitor Center and historic Cant Ranch.  The National Park Service did not report on any significant damage to the park and said there are no reports of lost structures.  The burns to the Painted Hills come simultaneously as around 6,000 people in central and eastern Oregon received a 'Go Now!' evacuation order Tuesday night after major fires were sparked by lightning storms across the region. Fires currently cover more than 1.5 million acres in the state.  Northwest Team 2 Operations Section Chief Thadd Niebel provided an update on July 29 mentioning the Painted Hills area could take a 'couple of days before they can really get that to containment' Wildfire smoke is blanketing five states in the Pacific Northwest as over one million acres burn Wildfires have triggered evacuations in central and easter Oregon for thousands of residents Lawmakers in Oregon have claimed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied the state's request for aid in fighting two of the larger wildfires currently burning – the Rowe Creek Complex and East Evans Creek Fires. The Rowe Creek Complex urges those planning to travel through the area to closely follow updates regarding the situation. 'Thank you to everyone for your continued patience and support as firefighters continue making steady progress along Highway 26'