June 18, 2025 5:20 a.m.

Tuesday evening, Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Alder Springs Fire in Jefferson County.

A release said the Jefferson County Fire Defense Board chief requested assistance with life, safety, and structural fire protection, and the state fire marshal concurred with that request.

Following state law, Governor Kotek determined that a threat to life, safety and property exists due to the fire, and the threat exceeds the firefighting capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment.

The governor’s declaration allows the Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize resources through the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System to support local fire service agencies on scene. The conflagration was invoked only for the Alder Springs Fire threatening structures in Jefferson and Deschutes counties.

The fire was reported at 9:40 a.m. Monday on the Crooked River National Grasslands and quickly grew to 2,500 acres by Monday night due to stormy breezy conditions.

This marks the second time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked by Governor Kotek in the 2025 wildfire season. Governor Kotek invoked the act for the Rowena Fire in Wasco County on June 11th.