The Bench Fire has left a mark on the Warm Springs Reservation that tribal leaders say will take years — possibly decades — to fully heal. The fire tore through the 640,000-acre reservation in late July and early August, burning at least six homes, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate, and cutting power and clean water to thousands of people for nearly a week.

As of early August, the fire was approximately one-third contained, with no Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation orders in place. But the immediate danger lifting has exposed just how deep the damage runs.

Staying Behind to Save the Animals

For Warm Springs tribal member Shana Johnson, the fire meant seven days without electricity, dead wells, spoiled food, and an agonizing choice: leave her ranch or stay and protect her livestock. She and three generations of her family chose to stay.

"We were so frightened that we didn't want to leave our animals, our cows and our horses and our dogs and cats," Johnson told OPB. "I mean, it's not like for us, we can just pick up and move. So we pretty much decided that we were going to all stay and make sure that our animals were OK."

The fire forced them to flee briefly to a nearby open field when the winds shifted, but they returned as soon as conditions allowed.

A Loss That Goes Beyond Structures

Edward Henderson, Treasury-Secretary and CEO of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, described the loss in terms that go beyond the physical.

"It's the land, the fish, the animals, all of it. We see it as interconnected. Someone outside might say, 'It's just a forest, it'll grow back.' We live here and were supposed to take care of it."

Beyond the burned homes and displaced families, the fire dealt a blow to the tribe's economic base — including revenue from timber sales that helps fund tribal programs and services. The Bench Fire is among at least 30 fires that have burned nearly 1.8 million acres statewide in what is shaping up to be one of Oregon's worst wildfire seasons in recent memory.

Water Crisis and Community Response

The Warm Springs water delivery system was strained to its limits during the fire's peak. Some areas lost tap water entirely, prompting officials to establish bottled water distribution points and urge community-wide conservation. Power outages left many wells inoperable for up to a week.

The Confederated Tribes established a wildfire recovery fund to assist affected families. Evacuation orders across the reservation have since been downgraded from their peak levels, and the tribal government has begun assessing damage and developing a recovery plan.

How to Help

Community members wishing to support Warm Springs families affected by the Bench Fire can visit warmsprings-nsn.gov for information on the tribal recovery fund. The Warm Springs community sits approximately 70 miles southwest of Madras along US Highway 26.