Section
Public Safety
Public Safety
UPDATE: Evacuation Warnings Lifted for Jordan Fire Near Lake Billy Chinook
Level 1 and Level 2 evacuation warnings issued Monday afternoon for the Jordan Fire southwest of Lake Billy Chinook have been lifted as of Tuesday morning, with interagency crews reporting no structures currently threatened.
Public Safety
Wildfire Danger Rising: What Jefferson County Residents Need to Know Before Fire Season Peaks
With burn bans already in effect, a lightning fire just southwest of Lake Billy Chinook, and state officials warning of a severe 2026 fire season, Jefferson County residents are being urged to prepare now — before conditions worsen.
Public Safety
Lightning-Sparked Wildfire Burns Near Lake Billy Chinook; One Structure Threatened
A lightning-caused wildfire broke out Monday afternoon about five miles southwest of Lake Billy Chinook, scorching 6.5 acres of grass, brush, and timber before firefighters halted its forward progress.
Public Safety
Expect 20-Minute Delays on Highway 26 Near Warm Springs Through Mid-June
ODOT and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are removing approximately 1,000 hazardous trees along U.S. Highway 26 between Warm Springs and Mount Hood. Travelers should plan for 20-minute delays or more through mid-June.
Public Safety
Fire Season Is Here: Campfires, Fireworks, and Chainsaws Now Restricted Across Central Oregon
The 2026 fire season officially began May 8, and Central Oregon public lands moved into Stage 1 fire restrictions on May 18. Campfires are now prohibited except at designated campgrounds. Jefferson County residents heading outdoors this summer need to know the rules before they go.
Public Safety
Home and Trailer Destroyed in Fire Six Miles North of Madras
A fire destroyed a home and a nearby trailer approximately six miles north of Madras, with photos showing both structures fully engulfed — another reminder of the elevated fire risk facing Jefferson County as the 2026 fire season intensifies.
Public Safety
Fire Season Is Here: What Jefferson County and Central Oregon Residents Need to Know Right Now
Fire restrictions are now in effect across Jefferson County and Central Oregon public lands following an early start to fire season. Here is what local residents need to know about burn bans, ODF closures, and Stage 1 federal restrictions heading into June.
Public Safety
Community Turns Out to Celebrate Jefferson County Fire and EMS's Newly Upgraded Madras Station
Jefferson County Fire and EMS opened its doors Friday for a community open house at its newly remodeled and expanded Madras headquarters — a $14.5 million project adding 6,000 square feet and long-overdue upgrades for crews who work there around the clock.
Public Safety
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Log: K9 Keira Finds Commercial Quantities of Meth, Cocaine, and Fentanyl in Terrebonne Stop
The week of May 18–25 saw a multi-agency drug bust in Terrebonne, two DUI arrests, a firearm-related arrest near Three Rivers, and multiple theft and burglary incidents across Jefferson County. All log entries are charges, not convictions.
Public Safety
Home and Trailer Destroyed in Fire North of Madras
A fire destroyed a residence and a nearby trailer approximately six miles north of Madras on Monday, May 26. Photos from the scene showed both structures fully engulfed in flames as crews worked to respond.
Public Safety
Zen Fire Near Clarno Reaches 1,635 Acres, Crews Working Toward Full Containment
A wildfire that ignited May 25 approximately five miles south of Clarno in Jefferson County has grown to 1,635 acres and is 80% contained, according to the latest update from the Prineville District BLM.
Public Safety
Fire Season Arrives Early: Campfire Restrictions Already in Effect Across Central Oregon Public Lands
Unusually warm and dry spring conditions have pushed fire restrictions into effect weeks earlier than normal across the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests, the Crooked River National Grassland, and Prineville District BLM lands — all of which border Jefferson County.