A grassland fire broke out Tuesday afternoon on the Crooked River National Grassland about two miles south of Madras, prompting a rapid multi-agency response that halted the blaze within an hour and held it to seven acres.

The fire was reported around 4:45 p.m. on June 23 on the east side of Highway 26. Crews from Jefferson County Fire & EMS, the Central Oregon Fire Management Service, the Wildland Fire Service, and the Prineville Bureau of Land Management all responded to the scene.

Quick Response Stops Spread

According to a report from Central Oregon Fire Info, suppression crews were working the fire between 5:10 and 6:10 p.m. By 6:10 p.m., crews had stopped the fire from spreading further. The final footprint was seven acres.

The fast containment was a sign of effective coordination among the agencies — but also a reminder of how quickly conditions can escalate this time of year.

High-Risk Season

Jefferson County is under a burn ban that has been in effect since early May, driven by drying fuels, drought conditions, and low snowpack from last winter. The county ranked among the top 50 most wildfire-impacted counties in the United States in 2025, according to federal data, and officials say 2026 conditions are even more dangerous.

The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center has described fire danger in the local area as extreme.

Jefferson County Fire & EMS Interim Fire Chief Kasey Skaar has urged residents to call early if they spot smoke or flames.

“Don’t wait to see how big it gets. Call it in the moment you see it,” Skaar said in a recent public safety message.

Cause Still Unknown

The cause of the Crooked River National Grassland fire is still being investigated. Officials have not said whether it was human-caused or lightning-ignited.

Residents who notice smoke or fire should call 911 immediately. For updated fire information, visit centraloregonfire.org or the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center at gacc.nifc.gov.

Defensible space guidelines and fire preparedness resources are available through Jefferson County Fire & EMS at jcfr1.org.