Central Oregon is deep into an elevated wildfire season, with national fire preparedness sitting at Level 4 out of 5 — a threshold that signals significant strain on firefighting resources across the country. Locally, residents and officials are navigating both wildfire risks and the disruptions caused by preemptive power shutoffs designed to reduce ignition risk.

Fires Burning Near the Region

Several fires have ignited in the broader Central Oregon area in recent weeks. The Antelope Creek Fire, which started July 4 approximately one mile north of the City of Antelope in Wasco County, burned more than 1,260 acres before firefighters could contain its spread. Though that blaze is outside Jefferson County, the Antelope area sits close to the county’s northern edge and the fire served as a stark reminder of conditions across the high desert plateau.

A separate fire, the Coyner Fire, burned 20.5 acres northwest of Redmond on July 4 and is under investigation for cause. Firefighting resources in the region remain stretched as the 2026 season accelerates.

The Worst Snow Drought in Recent Memory

This year’s fire danger is being driven by what experts describe as an unprecedented “snow drought.” Oregon entered spring with record-low snowpack, followed by a hot, dry winter and an early-season heat pattern. Across the American West, more than 3.4 million acres had already burned by early July — significantly outpacing recent years at this point in the season.

Pacific Power Outages: Safety Measure or Community Burden?

Pacific Power, through its parent company PacifiCorp, has been implementing “enhanced safety settings” that result in short-term, unplanned power outages during high-risk weather windows. These so-called Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) have hit Jefferson County customers multiple times in recent weeks.

The disruptions have drawn frustration from the community — particularly from agricultural operations like the North Unit Irrigation District, which depends on reliable power to run pumps and distribute water during the critical summer irrigation season.

Pacific Power held a town hall last week at the Jefferson County Public Health Building in Madras to address community concerns and answer questions about the program. Utility representatives said the outages, while disruptive, are intended to prevent equipment-caused ignitions during extreme fire weather.

What Residents Should Know

  • Check fire restrictions: Restrictions may be in place on federal, state, and private lands. Visit ODF’s Central Oregon District page or centraloregonfire.org for current status.
  • Sign up for emergency alerts: Jefferson County residents can register for emergency notifications at jeffco.us or through the Wireless Emergency Alert system.
  • Have a go-bag ready: With fire conditions elevated, having a 72-hour kit and knowing your evacuation routes is strongly recommended.
  • Report new fires immediately: Call 911 for any new fire or smoke sightings.

The Madras Bulletin will provide updates on fire activity and evacuation orders throughout the season. Bookmark centraloregonfire.org for real-time information.