Oregon wildfires burn record 2.6 million acres

By the numbers: Oregon has recorded 75 large fires so far this year — meaning bigger than 100 acres in timber and 300 acres in grasslands — including:

• The Big Grass fire, currently the state's largest with 600 personnel deployed, at 579,200 acres
• The Rowe Creek Complex, burning across Jefferson and Crook counties, at 374,00 acres
• The Coleman Creek fire, which is 95% contained, at 308,700 acres

Plus: The Grasshopper fire, burning east of Mount Hood, reached 91,600 acres burned and 57% contained as of Wednesday.

Context: Officials knew this kind of destruction from wildfires was possible this year.

• Oregon entered fire season after an unusually warm, dry winter that left low snowpack, exceptionally dry vegetation and drought across the state.

• Experts warned of an earlier, longer fire season and recent conditions haven't been helping.

What we're watching: Firefighters are bracing for another stretch of hot, dry and dangerous conditions as red flag warnings cover parts of the Columbia River Gorge, Lower Columbia Basin and eastern Cascades through the weekend.

• Gusts could reach up to 30 mph and humidity could fall as low as 15% with the potential for more dry lightning storms starting Thursday.