A wildfire burning on Bureau of Land Management land in the northern reaches of Jefferson County remains active but is nearing containment, fire managers reported Thursday.
The Zen Fire ignited May 25 at approximately 3:36 p.m., roughly five miles south of Clarno in the Prineville District BLM jurisdiction. As of the May 29 morning update, the fire had burned approximately 1,635 acres — a figure adjusted from earlier estimates based on more accurate mapping, with no new growth reported. The fire is 80% contained.
Fuels and Resources
The blaze is burning through grass and brush — the same flashy fuels that have driven several early-season fires across Central Oregon this year. The cause remains under investigation.
Resources currently assigned include two engines. No structures have been threatened or damaged.
Interagency Coordination
The Zen Fire is being managed through coordination between the Prineville District BLM and the Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS), which is working alongside the newly established U.S. Wildland Fire Service.
Residents around the Clarno area and Shaniko may notice interagency fire apparatus and COFMS prevention patrols on public roads in the area. Fire officials note that multiple agency logos may appear on vehicles and equipment, reflecting the unified interagency effort to suppress wildland fires across Central Oregon this season.
Staying Informed
Clarno is a small community in the northeastern corner of Jefferson County near the Clarno Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. While the fire poses no immediate threat to structures, residents in the northern county who notice smoke or new fire should call 9-1-1.
- For wildfire updates: centraloregonfire.org
- For smoke and air quality information: fire.airnow.gov
- Text alerts: COFIRE to 888-777