A large wildfire ignited Saturday afternoon on private land north of Antelope — roughly 30 miles northeast of Madras — and has grown to more than 1,261 acres, prompting Level 3 evacuation orders across portions of Wasco County, fire officials said.

The Antelope Creek Fire started at 12:39 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, driven by dry grass, brush and sage under summer heat conditions. By Sunday afternoon, the fire was approximately 50% contained, according to the Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS).

Evacuation Orders Remain in Place

Wasco County residents in the affected area have been ordered to leave their homes immediately under Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders. Suzannah Burke, public information officer for COFMS, said the fire is burning in a remote area but noted that several structures are at risk.

"There are a few structures at risk," Burke said, estimating roughly 10 of them could be residential — though whether they are currently occupied had not been confirmed as of Sunday.

Residents are encouraged to check the Wasco County Sheriff's Office emergency management website for current evacuation zone status.

Resources Deployed

Multiple firefighting assets are working the blaze, including three fire engines, ten smokejumpers, two helicopters, two water tenders, and eight air tankers, according to a Central Oregon Fire Information fact sheet. The Bureau of Land Management is coordinating with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and COFMS on the incident.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

What Jefferson County Residents Should Know

While the Antelope Creek Fire is burning in Wasco County, its proximity to northern Jefferson County means smoke may be visible from Madras and surrounding communities. Residents with respiratory conditions should monitor air quality at fire.airnow.gov.

The fire is also a stark reminder of conditions across the region heading into the heart of fire season. Central Oregon fire officials have warned that hot, dry summer conditions mean even a small spark can lead to significant fire activity.

  • For wildfire updates: centraloregonfire.org
  • For smoke and air quality: fire.airnow.gov
  • Text COFIRE to 888-777 to receive text updates
  • Call 911 to report any new smoke or fire