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Local News
Local News
Warm Springs Bench Fire Hits 84% Containment; All Reservation Evacuation Levels Downgraded
Firefighters have pushed containment on the Bench Fire to 84%, and all evacuation levels on the Warm Springs Reservation were lowered to Level 1 'Be Ready' on Monday. A recovery distribution center remains open for affected families.
Local News
Warm Springs This Week: Tribal Appreciation Day, Board Vacancies, Head Start Enrollment Open
A busy week ahead for the Warm Springs community includes Tribal Appreciation Day at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort on Wednesday, open enrollment for Head Start, a summer movie night Thursday, and three open board positions with an August 10 application deadline.
Local News
Warm Springs Community This Week: Youth Day Camp, Kah-Nee-Ta Appreciation Day, Museum Membership Drive
A busy week ahead for the Warm Springs community, with the Prevention Team’s 6th annual Building Resiliency Summer Day Camp kicking off Monday, Tribal Appreciation Day at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort on Wednesday, and the Museum at Warm Springs’ annual membership drive running all month.
Local News
Extreme Drought Grips Jefferson County; Farmers and Ranchers Brace for Difficult Summer
Jefferson County saw one of the sharpest drought escalations in Oregon last month, jumping from under 6% to more than 43% extreme drought coverage in a single week. With fires burning, water rights under pressure, and a dry winter in the rear-view mirror, local farmers and ranchers are navigating one of the toughest summer seasons in years.
Local News
Warm Springs Faces Water Crisis as Bench Fire Devastation Deepens; Community Steps Up
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are battling a critical water shortage on top of the ongoing Bench Fire emergency, with storage tanks at critically low levels and a boil water advisory still in effect. Meanwhile, neighbors across Central Oregon are stepping up with donations and support for the reservation community.
Local News
Drought Tightens Its Grip on Jefferson County Farms and Ranches
Jefferson County recorded the largest single-week jump in extreme drought coverage of any county in Central Oregon this summer, as ranchers and farmers face dried-up pastures, costly hay shortages, and an extended dry outlook through at least the end of August.
Local News
Madras Becomes Wildfire Front Line: Red Cross Shelter Open, Volunteers Mobilize
With fires surrounding Jefferson County on multiple sides, the city of Madras has become a hub for evacuees, firefighting operations, and community relief efforts. Hundreds of firefighters are staging out of the area while local volunteers have stepped up in remarkable ways.
Local News
Confederated Tribes Launch Recovery Fund as Bench Fire Destroys Eight Homes on Reservation
With eight homes and five other structures lost to the Bench Fire, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have opened emergency shelters, organized community support efforts, and launched a wildfire recovery fund for displaced tribal members. The Warm Springs Agency District evacuation level was downgraded Thursday to Level 2.
Local News
How to Help: Warm Springs Tribal Members Need Water, Food, and Shelter After Bench Fire Destroys Homes
Six homes and multiple structures lost on the Warm Springs Reservation have left tribal families displaced and in urgent need of supplies. The Confederated Tribes have launched an official wildfire recovery fund and identified drop-off sites across Central Oregon for donations of water, food, and basic necessities.
Local News
Where to Go, Where to Help: Evacuation Shelters and Support Resources for Jefferson County Fire Evacuees
As thousands of Jefferson County residents flee wildfires across the county, shelters have opened in Madras, Warm Springs, Sisters, and Prineville. Here is a complete guide to where evacuees can find a bed, a meal, and help moving their animals.
Local News
Four Active Wildfires Burning Across Jefferson County: What You Need to Know
Jefferson County is simultaneously battling four major wildfires — the Bench, Akawa Butte, Rowe Creek Complex West, and Ten Mile fires — covering a combined footprint of more than 370,000 acres. Here is a status update on each fire and what it means for communities across the county.