A new wildfire broke out in Jefferson County on Thursday, May 14, adding to growing fire activity across Central Oregon just as state and federal officials warn of an unusually dangerous fire season.
The blaze, dubbed the Seagull Fire, ignited near Warm Springs and was initially reported to the National Interagency Fire Center as a one-acre fire at 4:16 p.m. The fire is in an area already under close watch as dry, warm conditions have moved the region into what fire managers describe as an early start to fire season.
Fire Restrictions Already in Effect
Jefferson County announced summer burning restrictions beginning May 4, weeks ahead of the typical schedule. Under those restrictions:
- Open burning is allowed only in approved, screened burn barrels with a valid permit
- Burning is permitted from sunrise to 10:00 a.m. daily
- Burn permits are required and available through the Oregon Department of Forestry
Separately, the Bureau of Land Management implemented additional fire restrictions on May 14 across Central Oregon, including a ban on fireworks and exploding targets on BLM-managed lands.
A Season Starting Weeks Early
State fire experts warned earlier this month that Oregon’s 2026 wildfire season is expected to run well into fall, fueled by historic heat, drought, and a potential El Niño weather pattern that could bring further extreme temperatures and increased lightning activity.
Central Oregon has already seen multiple fires this season. The Pine Mountain Fire, which started as a prescribed burn on the Deschutes National Forest near Bend on May 7 before being declared a wildfire, reached 2,589 acres and was 85% contained as of mid-week. A fire near Culver in early May was contained at two acres after triggering a Level 2 evacuation alert for communities south of town.
Jefferson County residents can sign up for emergency alerts through the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The county tested its emergency alert system in late April.
What Residents Should Know
Dry, warm conditions in Central Oregon have been notable this week. Madras reached a high near 87 degrees earlier this week, continuing a streak of above-average temperatures. The combination of heat, low humidity, and dry vegetation creates high risk for fire starts — especially from human activity.
“It’s not one thing that brings the wildfire season, it’s many things,” Gov. Tina Kotek said at a May wildfire preparedness briefing. Oregonians were urged to be “far more cautious” than in recent years when starting campfires or burning debris.
Residents with questions about burn restrictions in Jefferson County can contact the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Prineville Unit or visit the county’s website at jeffco.net. For fire updates across the broader region, Central Oregon Fire Information maintains a public website at centraloregonfire.org.
Anyone who spots a wildfire should call 911 immediately.