Airshow of the Cascades Returns to Madras August 28-29 with Aerobatics, Car Show, and Live Music

The Jefferson County Fair wrapped up last week under smoky skies and amid active wildfire concerns nearby, but organizers and attendees say the community spirit was undeniable. New attractions, 4-H and FFA livestock auctions, and even a Sheriff's Office trading card giveaway made this year's fair one to remember.

Jefferson County recorded the largest single-week jump in extreme drought coverage of any county in Central Oregon this summer, as ranchers and farmers face dried-up pastures, costly hay shortages, and an extended dry outlook through at least the end of August.

More than a week after the Bench Fire ignited south of Warm Springs, tribal members are beginning to return home -- but six families have lost their homes entirely. The Confederated Tribes have declared a state of emergency and launched a recovery fund for displaced residents.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect Saturday for Jefferson County and most of Central Oregon, threatening to push the already-massive Bench Fire beyond its 32% containment lines. Firefighters are bracing for winds up to 30 mph and humidity as low as 5 percent.

U.S. Highway 26 through the Warm Springs area remains on a pilot-car system during daylight hours with nightly closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. A smoke and air quality advisory remains in effect for Jefferson County. Here's what travelers and residents need to know.