Jefferson County residents should be aware: open burning is currently closed countywide, according to Jefferson County Fire & EMS. The closure is part of annual summer burn restrictions that have been in effect since May and remain active as the region moves through September — historically one of the most dangerous months of the fire season in Central Oregon.

Round Butte Fire Still Fresh in Memory

This summer drove the point home. The human-caused Round Butte Fire ignited on August 1 on the Crooked River National Grassland and private land in Jefferson County, eventually burning approximately 1,163 acres. The Central Oregon Type 3 incident management team worked alongside Jefferson County Fire & EMS and the Oregon State Fire Marshal to establish control lines and protect structures in the area.

Though the Round Butte Fire is no longer actively threatening structures, the conditions that made it possible — dry fuels, drought-stressed vegetation, and low humidity — haven't gone away.

An Ongoing Drought

Jefferson County has received an emergency drought declaration from Oregon's governor every year since 2020, and 2026 is no exception. Oregon's Water Resources Department described this year's drought as potentially extraordinary, driven by historically low snowpack, one of the warmest winters on record, and multi-year precipitation deficits.

That means grasses and brush across the county are tinder-dry heading into September. A single spark — from a campfire, a vehicle, or a discarded cigarette — can ignite fast-moving wildfires.

What's Allowed — and What's Not

  • Open burning is closed. This includes yard debris, agricultural burning, and recreational fires outside designated fire rings.
  • Campfires may be restricted or prohibited on federal and state lands — check with the Oregon Department of Forestry or the relevant land management agency before your trip.
  • Report wildfires immediately by calling 911. Do not assume someone else has already reported it.

Protecting Your Property

Fire officials encourage residents to maintain defensible space around homes and outbuildings, clear dry vegetation away from structures, and have an evacuation plan ready. Jefferson County can experience fast-moving fires that give residents little warning time.

Current fire restriction information for Jefferson County is available at jcfr1.org. For state forestland and federal land restrictions, visit oregon.gov/odf.