As Jefferson County moves into the final days of summer, one fact remains unchanged: open burning is still completely prohibited countywide, and fire officials are urging residents to stay alert as dry conditions linger into the fall season.

Jefferson County Fire and EMS, which covers unincorporated portions of the county, has maintained a full closure on open burning since summer restrictions went into effect in May. The district’s website is unambiguous: “Open burning is closed.” That means no agricultural burns, no debris piles, no barrel burns — regardless of permit status — until the closure is lifted.

One of Oregon’s Driest Years on Record

The prolonged closure reflects a brutal 2026 drought season that struck Jefferson County particularly hard. The year began with historically low snowpack and one of the warmest winters in state history across Oregon. By late spring, the Oregon Water Resources Department was describing 2026 as “potentially extraordinary” in terms of drought severity — conditions comparable to the devastating 2015 snow drought.

For Jefferson County, the numbers were stark: by late April, 94 percent of the county was classified in severe drought, with the remaining 6 percent in moderate drought. It was among the worst drought concentrations in the state.

Fire Season Brought Real Consequences

Those dry conditions translated into active fire season conditions through the summer. In early August, the Round Butte Fire burned approximately 1,200 acres in Jefferson County, requiring a significant response from local, state, and federal fire resources. The fire was a reminder of how quickly conditions can escalate across the county’s dry juniper and sagebrush terrain.

The Oregon Department of Forestry maintains its own separate restrictions on state and private forestlands, which can differ from county-level burn bans. Residents should check both ODF and local fire district rules before conducting any outdoor burning activity, including agricultural operations.

What Comes Next

Cooler temperatures are beginning to arrive, but fire weather in Central Oregon can persist well into October. High winds, low humidity, and continued dry conditions can still create dangerous fire weather days even as fall progresses. Burn restrictions are typically lifted once significant rainfall returns — a transition that often doesn’t arrive until October or November in a dry year like this one.

Fire officials recommend continuing to exercise caution with anything that could spark a fire: equipment use, campfires, target shooting with steel-core ammunition, and vehicle use in dry grass areas.

Check Before You Burn

  • Jefferson County Fire District 1: jcfr1.org | (541) 475-1072
  • Oregon Dept. of Forestry restrictions: oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx
  • USDA FSA drought assistance: (541) 475-3538

Farmers and ranchers who sustained losses due to drought conditions may still be eligible for assistance through USDA Farm Service Agency programs, including the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and emergency loan options.