If you live in Central Oregon — and especially if you live in Jefferson County's rural and semi-rural communities — this summer's wildfire season deserves your full attention. State officials are issuing some of the most direct warnings in years.

Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon's top fire officials held a public briefing earlier this month warning that the 2026 wildfire season is expected to be severe, difficult, and long — beginning earlier than usual and lasting into October.

What's Driving the Risk

Several factors are converging to create dangerous conditions:

  • Record-low snowpack: Mountain snowpack across the Cascades and High Desert ranges — which normally releases slowly through summer, keeping vegetation moist — was dramatically below normal this winter.
  • Ongoing drought: Central Oregon has been under drought conditions, and the NOAA spring outlook projects continued dry weather through the summer, closing the window for a rainy-season reprieve.
  • Warm winter and El Niño: Above-normal winter temperatures accelerated the drying of grasses and brush that serve as fire fuel.
  • Early season activity: The Pine Mountain Fire near Brothers burned 2,589 acres earlier this month, reaching 85% containment — a jarring early-season reminder that conditions are already dangerous.

The 2015 Comparison

Fire meteorologists are increasingly drawing comparisons to 2015, which remains one of the most catastrophic wildfire years in Oregon's recorded history. That year, fires burned across millions of acres statewide, blanketing Central Oregon in smoke for weeks and threatening communities from the Cascades to the High Desert.

"I am increasingly concerned 2026 could rival 2015 as the warmest calendar year on record in Oregon," ODF fire meteorologist Sean O'Neill has stated publicly.

What Jefferson County Residents Should Do Now

With summer burning restrictions already in effect (since May 4), residents across Jefferson County, Warm Springs, Crooked River Ranch, Culver, Metolius, and rural areas should prepare now:

  • Create defensible space around homes — clear dry grass, brush, and debris within 30 feet
  • Have a go bag ready with essential documents, medications, and supplies
  • Know your evacuation routes — including alternates if primary roads are blocked
  • Sign up for Jefferson County emergency alerts at jeffco.net
  • Never leave campfires unattended and fully extinguish before leaving

Evacuation Levels to Know

Oregon uses a three-level evacuation system: Level 1 (Be Ready), Level 2 (Be Set), and Level 3 (Go Now). Jefferson County Emergency Management will issue notifications through official channels. In a fast-moving fire, there may be little time between levels — prepare at Level 1.

This is not a drill. Fire season is here. Take it seriously.