The Rowe Creek Complex wildfire grew to an official 364,413 acres as of Saturday, August 8, with containment climbing to 76 percent — a hard-won gain for the nearly 1,750 firefighters battling one of Oregon's largest active wildfires.

The lightning-caused fire started July 15 approximately ten miles south of Fossil and has since spread across Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, and Wasco counties. US Highway 26 east of Madras remains closed as vegetation removal and chipping operations along the corridor continue in a critical effort to keep the fire from crossing that major route.

Red Flag Conditions Pushed the Fire Hard

Friday's operations proved especially grueling. A Remote Automatic Weather Station in the area recorded 95-degree temperatures with just 8 percent relative humidity. Multiple spot fires crossed US-26 in the afternoon, drawing surge groups to assist crews already on the line.

Fire personnel worked to connect holding features south of Forest Service Road 3300-500 and southeast of US-26 as contingency lines. Crews used County Road 23 — also known as Ranger Road or Ochoco Creek Road — along with a network of dozer lines to hold the fire burning on the southeast side of the highway. Structure protection remained a priority throughout the day.

Operations Continue on Multiple Fronts

A backing fire reached Salmon Creek Road on Saturday, which has been incorporated into the primary containment line on that section of the fire. Crews reported success on lines near Cherry Creek, where direct tactics helped hold the perimeter.

Additional Oregon State Fire Marshal structure protection task forces have been deployed across the fire area. Strategic firing operations, vegetation removal, and chipping are all being employed to reinforce containment lines.

What Residents Need to Know

  • US Highway 26 remains closed east of Madras — use alternate routes
  • Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect in portions of Jefferson County — check the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Facebook page for the latest zone updates
  • Burn barrel use in Jefferson County has been prohibited since August 4
  • Text COFIRE to 888-777 for wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts
  • Visit InciWeb and centraloregonfire.org for daily updates

The Rowe Creek Complex remains one of approximately 30 active fires that have collectively burned close to two million acres statewide this season — the worst fire year on record in Oregon. Residents across Jefferson County are urged to remain vigilant and ready to evacuate on short notice.