The Round Butte Fire burning approximately five miles west of Madras reached 1,091 acres as of Tuesday, August 4, with containment at 12 percent — a marked improvement from zero containment earlier in the week, according to the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch.

The fire ignited Saturday afternoon, August 1, on the south side of Round Butte, quickly pushing east through grass, brush, and juniper under breezy, dry conditions tied to a Particularly Dangerous Situation weather event. By Sunday morning, an overnight infrared flight had mapped the fire at more than 1,000 acres. The rapid growth triggered Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations issued by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for areas near the fire's path.

Crews Secure Perimeter, Begin Mop-Up

By Monday, firefighters had established containment lines around the entire fire perimeter. The Central Oregon Type 3 Team is managing the Round Butte Fire in close coordination with Jefferson County Fire and EMS and the Oregon State Fire Marshal. The fire is burning on the Crooked River National Grassland and adjacent private land.

On Tuesday, crews shifted focus from initial attack to securing control lines and beginning mop-up operations. Helicopters continued providing water bucket drops to knock down interior heat pockets. One hundred personnel are currently assigned to the incident.

Near-Record Heat Threatens Progress Wednesday

The forecast for Wednesday, August 5, raises concern for fire managers. Temperatures are expected to approach record highs with relative humidity potentially dropping into dangerously low territory — conditions that could reignite fire behavior even in areas crews have already worked. Northeasterly wind gusts are also possible.

"Weather to the north continues to trend into Red Flag warnings due to the high-pressure system in the Rocky Mountains," fire officials noted in Tuesday's update. "Smoke from multiple wildfires will continue to affect the area."

Evacuation Zones Remain in Effect

Evacuation zones adjacent to the Round Butte Fire remain in effect as of Wednesday morning. Residents can check their current evacuation status using the Jefferson County interactive evacuation map available through Jefferson County Emergency Management's website.

Smoke from the Round Butte Fire and several other regional blazes continues to degrade air quality in the Madras area. Residents with respiratory sensitivities are advised to limit outdoor activity, keep windows closed, and monitor conditions at fire.airnow.gov.

  • Fire size: 1,091 acres
  • Containment: 12%
  • Start date: Saturday, August 1, 2026
  • Location: 5 miles west of Madras on Crooked River National Grassland
  • Cause: Undetermined
  • Personnel assigned: 100

To report a wildfire, call 9-1-1. For ongoing updates, visit centraloregonfire.org or follow @CentralORfire on X/Twitter.