Firefighters in Jefferson County made significant progress this week on the Flat Fire burning near Culver, Oregon, pushing containment to 67 percent as of Tuesday morning and allowing officials to downgrade all evacuation levels across the affected area to Level 1 — "Be Ready" — according to the Central Oregon Fire Information team.

Containment Progress

The Flat Fire, which sparked earlier this month under dry and windy conditions in the high desert terrain south of Madras, prompted Level 2 and Level 3 evacuation warnings for several days as crews worked to establish control lines around the fire perimeter. As cooler temperatures and more moderate winds moved through the region, ground crews made substantial gains on the fire's edges.

With containment improving steadily, incident commanders authorized the downgrade of all evacuation levels back to Level 1 on Tuesday. Level 1 means residents should remain aware of conditions and be prepared to leave quickly if the situation changes.

What Level 1 Means for Residents

Emergency managers stress that a Level 1 designation is not an all-clear. Residents within the advisory zone are advised to:

  • Keep emergency go-bags packed and ready
  • Ensure pets and livestock can be evacuated quickly
  • Monitor local alert systems through Jefferson County Emergency Management
  • Stay aware of fire behavior updates, particularly as afternoon winds typically increase

Ongoing Mop-Up Operations

Even as containment improves, firefighters continue mop-up operations within the fire perimeter — extinguishing hot spots, reinforcing containment lines, and removing hazard trees near roadways. Smoke may remain visible from the fire area for several days as crews work through these operations.

The Flat Fire joins a growing list of early-season fires in Central Oregon that prompted agencies to implement Stage 1 Public Use Fire Restrictions across Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the Prineville District BLM effective May 18.

Looking Ahead

Fire managers warn that while the Flat Fire is nearing full containment, conditions across Central Oregon remain critical. Above-normal temperatures, well-below-normal snowpack, and forecasted dry and windy periods are expected to maintain elevated fire risk through at least June. Residents near wildland-urban interface areas in Jefferson, Deschutes, and Crook counties are urged to use the reprieve to restock emergency supplies and review household evacuation plans.

For the latest updates, visit the Oregon Department of Forestry at oregon.gov/odf or the Jefferson County Emergency Management website.