One year after the Cram Fire tore through Jefferson and Wasco Counties, legal battles over who caused it are continuing. A Jefferson County ranching couple has sued Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) for more than $10 million, claiming the utility's negligence sparked the blaze that burned nearly 96,000 acres northeast of Madras last July.

The lawsuit was filed by Ronald and Debra Dees in Deschutes County Circuit Court. Their attorneys at Singleton Schreiber allege that Central Electric Cooperative "negligently and recklessly failed" to properly manage its electrical infrastructure during extreme fire weather conditions — and kept its power lines energized even as temperatures soared and vegetation dried out.

"Despite the extreme risk of wildfires in Jefferson County and the surrounding area, Defendant CEC continued to operate its utility lines in an area with dry, overgrown vegetation," the lawsuit states. "Eyewitnesses observed power outages in the area where the fire ignited and almost immediately thereafter observed a downed CEC powerline from which sparks and/or other materials ignited the Cram fire."

What the Cram Fire Did

The Cram Fire started on Sunday, July 13, 2025, off Highway 97 near Willowdale, and rapidly exploded in hot, dry, windy conditions. At its peak, it burned nearly 96,000 acres across Jefferson, Wasco, and Crook Counties. It destroyed:

  • 2 residences
  • 14 outbuildings, including barns, workshops, pump houses, and sheds

Hundreds of residents were placed under Level 3 (Leave Now) evacuation orders. A temporary emergency shelter was opened at Jefferson County Middle School.

What CEC Says

Central Electric Cooperative acknowledged the filing but has not admitted liability. The cooperative, which serves rural customers across Central Oregon including many in Jefferson County, has said it is aware of the litigation.

The case is part of a growing wave of lawsuits against Oregon utilities over their alleged roles in sparking major wildfires — a trend accelerated by devastating fires across the West in recent years.

As Fire Season Returns...

With fire danger once again at extreme levels heading into the Fourth of July weekend, and Jefferson County's farms and ranches already under stress from historic drought, the stakes of this litigation are more than legal. The outcome could shape how utilities across Central Oregon manage their infrastructure during high-risk fire weather for years to come.

The lawsuit is ongoing. No trial date has been publicly announced.