As of the morning of Thursday, May 28, the Zen Fire burning approximately five miles south of Clarno had grown to 1,635 acres and reached 60% containment — a significant improvement from just days earlier, when the fire held zero percent containment and was spreading rapidly through grass and brush.

The fire ignited on the afternoon of Sunday, May 25, at approximately 3:36 p.m. in Prineville District BLM jurisdiction. It initially grew to around 1,000 acres within hours and sat at 0% containment for more than two days as crews fought difficult terrain and erratic winds.

Location and Firefighting Resources

The Zen Fire burns in a grass and brush landscape that spans portions of Wheeler, Wasco, and Jefferson counties. According to Central Oregon Fire Information, no structures have been threatened throughout the incident. The updated acreage figure — revised from earlier estimates to 1,635 acres — reflects more accurate mapping rather than new growth, fire officials said.

Resources deployed to the fire included:

  • Two engines
  • One hotshot crew
  • Air resources, including a helicopter and air attack aircraft
  • Ground crews from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, Antelope Ashwood RFPA, Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Prineville and Vale Hotshot teams

The BLM noted it is coordinating with the newly established U.S. Wildland Fire Service to work alongside the Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS), a regional interagency coordination effort. Residents in the Clarno, Maupin, and Antelope-Ashwood areas may notice vehicles with multiple agency logos as interagency prevention patrols continue throughout Central Oregon.

A Second Fire Hit Warm Springs the Same Weekend

Also during the Memorial Day weekend, a separate fire broke out Saturday evening at the old Warm Springs Forest Products mill site on the Warm Springs Reservation. Driven by strong winds, that fire spread across about six acres before crews stopped further growth. The cause of both fires is listed as under investigation.

Early and Dangerous Season Ahead

Fire officials across the Pacific Northwest are warning that 2026 could be a severe wildfire year. Snowpack levels across Central Oregon and the broader Pacific Northwest have been near record lows this season, leaving landscapes parched well ahead of the typical peak danger period in July and August. Oregon's water resources officials are already calling for conservation as drought conditions develop statewide.

Jefferson County's summer burning restrictions, in effect since May 4, limit open burning to approved burn barrels with screens between sunrise and 10:00 a.m., permit required. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is also urging residents to make sure their properties are defensible space-ready as fire season ramps up.

For the latest wildfire updates in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org or follow @CentralORfire on X. To report a wildfire, call 9-1-1. For smoke and air quality information, visit fire.airnow.gov.