Data comprise macroinvertebrate count data (identified to species level), trait and classification information, as well as information on macroinvertebrate biomass and site-specific observations (e.g. canopy cover, habitat type, etc.) collected from the South Fork McKenzie river, Oregon, USA in Autumn 2019 and 2020, and winter of 2021 following the Holiday Farm wildfire in Autumn 2020. Samples were collected from restored and unrestored river reaches to quantify the difference in the response of benthic macroinvertebrate response to wildfire. The study was conducted by the University of Nottingham, with data collected by partners from the US Forest Service, Portland State University, Washington State University and Colorado State University. The work was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council.