Jefferson County residents are facing a serious wildfire threat this weekend as two major blazes burn simultaneously across the county, part of a broader regional fire outbreak spawned by a powerful lightning storm that crossed Central Oregon on Wednesday, July 15.

Brewer Fire — East of Madras

The Brewer Fire, located approximately 11 miles east of Madras, was first reported Wednesday afternoon and has grown to an estimated 5,000 acres as of Friday. Containment information has not yet been released. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office announced Friday afternoon that all of Zone SE 16 is under a Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation order. Residents in that zone should be prepared to leave on short notice.

Akawa Butte Fire — Near Crooked River Ranch

A separate fire, the Akawa Butte Fire, is burning roughly nine miles northwest of Crooked River Ranch in the area west of the Deschutes River and south of Lake Billy Chinook. This fire is not believed to have been caused by Wednesday's lightning storm. It was first spotted Thursday afternoon and grew rapidly to approximately 5,000 acres by Friday evening.

Evacuation levels near the fire include Level 1 (Be Ready), Level 2 (Get Set), and Level 3 (Leave Now) zones depending on proximity. The evacuation warning area expanded into Deschutes County Friday, marking the first time those zones crossed the county line. Temporary sheltering for displaced residents is available at Three Rivers Airport and the Three Rivers Day Use Area.

As of Friday night, no structures at Crooked River Ranch had been reported destroyed, though residents near the fire perimeter remain on high alert.

The Regional Picture

Jefferson County is just one of several counties dealing with an unprecedented multi-fire situation. Central Oregon Fire Management Service reports that Wednesday's storm produced more than 2,000 lightning strikes across the region, sparking over 85 fires in the days since. Most started very small, but high temperatures, low humidity, and gusty winds have pushed several into large, dangerous fires.

Fires are burning across Jefferson, Wheeler, Gilliam, Crook, and Sherman counties. The Rowe Creek Complex near Twickenham prompted closures of BLM public lands along both sides of the John Day River from Service Creek to its confluence with the Columbia River.

Oregon Department of Forestry's Complex Incident Management Team 2 has assumed command of multiple fires in the Jefferson-Crook County area, including the Brewer and Akawa Butte fires.

What Jefferson County Residents Should Do

  • Know your evacuation zone and monitor the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Facebook page for real-time updates.
  • Download the Watch Duty app for up-to-the-minute fire mapping and evacuation notifications.
  • If you are in a Level 2 zone, have a go-bag ready and be prepared to leave immediately if the order escalates.
  • Anyone in a Level 3 (Leave Now) zone must evacuate immediately — do not wait.
  • Keep windows and doors closed to reduce smoke infiltration indoors.
"Winds, low humidities, and high temperatures have caused a portion of the incidents to establish into large fires." — Central Oregon Fire Management Service

The Madras Bulletin will continue to provide updates as conditions change. For the latest evacuation maps, visit the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office on Facebook or use the Watch Duty app.