A wildfire that sparked on the evening of the Fourth of July northwest of Redmond has grown to 20.5 acres but firefighters have made significant progress, with the blaze now 50% contained as of Tuesday, July 7th.
The Coyner Fire ignited at approximately 8:38 p.m. on July 4th on Bureau of Land Management land northwest of Tetherow Road near Redmond. The fire burned through a mix of juniper, grass, brush, and sage before crews established a perimeter.
Evacuations Lifted
All evacuation notices that were issued in connection with the Coyner Fire have since been dropped, according to Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS). Residents in surrounding areas who had been urged to leave or prepare to leave may return to their homes.
Mop-Up Operations Continue
As of the morning of July 7th, five engines, two hand crews, and two water tenders remained on scene. Firefighters are continuing mop-up operations around the perimeter and working to address areas of heat and smoke on the interior of the fire.
Hand crews are also removing low-lying limbs and brush to allow for more thorough mop-up and to reduce the chance of any rekindling.
Wildland firefighters from the newly established U.S. Wildland Fire Service are working in coordination with interagency resources to protect BLM lands, reflecting a unified effort to suppress wildland fires.
Cause Still Under Investigation
The cause of the Coyner Fire remains under investigation. Officials have not ruled out human causation, and the timing — July 4th evening — has prompted renewed emphasis on fireworks safety and campfire responsibility across Central Oregon.
While the Coyner Fire is in Deschutes County near the city of Redmond, Jefferson County residents traveling to and from Madras use the US-97 corridor regularly, and smoke and fire conditions across the region remain a shared concern.
For the latest updates, visit centraloregonfire.org or follow @CentralORfire on X. For smoke and air quality information, visit fire.airnow.gov.