A fast-moving vegetation fire ignited Saturday afternoon on the south side of Round Butte, roughly five miles west of Madras, and exploded to an estimated 1,200 acres by Saturday evening, prompting Level 3 evacuation orders and a large multi-agency firefighting response.

The fire — now designated the Round Butte Fire — was first reported at approximately 3:15 p.m. on August 1 by Central Oregon Fire Information. Within 45 minutes it had grown from a handful of acres to an estimated 50–100 acres, with flames spreading rapidly east through dry grass and juniper-covered terrain.

Rapid Growth, Air Support Called In

By 4:15 p.m., two hotshot crews, dozers, and multiple aircraft — including large and single-engine air tankers and three helicopters — were fighting the fire from both the ground and the air. Jefferson County Sheriff's Office issued Level 3 (Leave Now) evacuation orders for the immediate area surrounding the fire.

As cooler temperatures and decreasing winds moved in Saturday evening, fire activity moderated somewhat. By 8:30 p.m., the fire was estimated at 1,200 acres, and the Central Oregon Type 3 Incident Management Team had been placed in unified command alongside Jefferson County Fire and EMS.

"This evening, decreasing winds and cooler temperatures have helped to moderate fire activity," Central Oregon Fire Information stated in its Saturday evening update.

Stage 2 Restrictions Already in Effect

The fire ignited under Stage 2 fire restrictions, which have been in place across Jefferson County and the Warm Springs Reservation. Stage 2 restrictions prohibit campfires, charcoal fires, and the use of any open-flame stove or lantern outdoors, among other prohibited activities.

The Round Butte Fire comes as Central Oregon is already grappling with an exceptionally active fire season. The Bench Fire near the Warm Springs Reservation had grown to more than 60,000 acres as of late last week, and the Akawa Butte Fire west of Crooked River Ranch remained only 62% contained as of August 1.

What to Do If You Are in an Evacuation Zone

  • Level 3 – Leave Now: Danger is present or imminent. Leave immediately.
  • Level 2 – Be Set: Be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
  • Level 1 – Be Ready: Monitor conditions and be prepared to evacuate if needed.

Current evacuation zone maps for Jefferson County are available through the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office interactive map online. Residents can also monitor conditions at centraloregonfire.org and sign up for emergency alerts through Jefferson County Emergency Management.

The Madras Bulletin will continue to update this story as conditions change. Always rely on official sources — not social media — for the most current evacuation boundaries.