Jefferson County Fire and EMS opened its doors Friday for a community open house at its newly remodeled and expanded Madras headquarters — a $14.5 million project adding 6,000 square feet and long-overdue upgrades for crews who work there around the clock.

The week of May 18–25 saw a multi-agency drug bust in Terrebonne, two DUI arrests, a firearm-related arrest near Three Rivers, and multiple theft and burglary incidents across Jefferson County. All log entries are charges, not convictions.

A fire destroyed a residence and a nearby trailer approximately six miles north of Madras on Monday, May 26. Photos from the scene showed both structures fully engulfed in flames as crews worked to respond.

A wildfire that ignited May 25 approximately five miles south of Clarno in Jefferson County has grown to 1,635 acres and is 80% contained, according to the latest update from the Prineville District BLM.

Unusually warm and dry spring conditions have pushed fire restrictions into effect weeks earlier than normal across the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests, the Crooked River National Grassland, and Prineville District BLM lands — all of which border Jefferson County.

Jefferson County Fire and EMS held an open house Friday evening to showcase its remodeled and expanded station, made possible by a community-approved bond. The upgrade adds 6,000 square feet of new space and modernizes a facility originally built in 1989.

The Zen Fire, burning in Wheeler, Wasco, and Jefferson counties near Clarno, grew to 1,635 acres before crews made significant progress — but the fire's rapid early spread has renewed alarm about what may be a dangerous 2026 wildfire season.

Unusually warm and dry spring conditions have pushed campfire restrictions two to three weeks earlier than normal across Central Oregon's public lands, including the Crooked River National Grassland and Ochoco National Forest. Oregon's official fire season begins Friday, May 30.

A wildfire that broke out Sunday afternoon south of Clarno grew rapidly to 1,000 acres by nightfall, pulling in hotshot crews and aerial resources from across the region. The blaze remained at zero percent containment but did not grow overnight.

AccuWeather and Oregon state fire officials are sounding the alarm about the 2026 wildfire season, citing record-low snowpack, historic drought, and dry vegetation. Jefferson County has been under summer burn restrictions since May 4.

Warm, dry conditions have prompted an early and broad sweep of fire restrictions across Central Oregon public lands — including ODF's regulated use closure and Stage 1 restrictions on federal land — just in time to affect Memorial Day weekend camping.