An Air Quality Advisory remained in effect through Friday for Warm Springs and surrounding areas, including parts of Jefferson County, as wildfire smoke from multiple regional fires continues to create potentially unhealthy conditions. Residents — especially children, the elderly, and those with heart or respiratory conditions — are advised to limit strenuous outdoor activity and keep windows closed when smoke is heavy.
Austin Fire Expanding West of Reservation
The Austin Fire, burning approximately 35 miles southeast of Estacada and five to seven miles west of the Warm Springs Reservation boundary, has grown to an estimated 9,823 acres. Aerial operations resumed Thursday after morning temperature inversions cleared, with helicopter crews dropping more than 22,200 gallons of water to support ground teams working to establish containment lines.
The fire is not currently threatening structures on the Reservation, but smoke from the Austin Fire has been a primary contributor to degraded air quality across the Warm Springs area this week. Fire managers say aerial operations will continue as weather conditions allow.
Bench and Round Butte Fires Holding
Closer to home, the Bench Fire — which burned southwest of Warm Springs and drew significant resources when it erupted in late July — has reached approximately 90 percent containment on Bureau of Indian Affairs-managed federal land. The Round Butte Fire, which prompted Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders near Culver and Madras in early August, is also holding within its containment lines and exhibiting minimal fire behavior.
Jefferson County Fire & EMS burn barrel restrictions implemented August 4 remain in effect for the remainder of the 2026 fire season.
El Niño Drought Warning Ahead
Even as fire crews make progress, water managers are raising alarms about what lies ahead. With 91 percent of Oregon currently experiencing drought conditions — and Jefferson County among the hardest hit, with 94 percent of the county under severe drought as of April — forecasters warn that a developing El Niño pattern could bring warmer-than-normal winter temperatures to the Pacific Northwest.
That scenario raises the prospect of early snowpack melt, reduced snowpack accumulation, and yet another difficult water year in 2027 for Central Oregon farmers, ranchers, and municipalities that depend on winter precipitation to recharge local reservoirs and irrigation systems.
"We're already behind. If El Niño delivers a warm, dry winter, we could be looking at back-to-back drought emergencies," one water manager told KWSO this week.
Governor Tina Kotek declared a drought emergency for Jefferson County earlier this spring. State and local officials are urging agricultural users to review water rights, explore conservation options, and plan for potential curtailments going into next irrigation season.
Air Quality Resources
Current air quality readings for the Madras and Warm Springs areas are available at oregonsmoke.com and through the Oregon DEQ AQI map. KWSO 91.9 FM provides regular wildfire and air quality updates throughout the day.