Rattlesnake Fire Burns Close to 5,000 Acre on WS Reservation

The Rattlesnake Fire, which began near Rattlesnake Springs on the Warm Springs Reservation Sunday afternoon, is burning in steep canyons and slopes of the sides of Webster Flats on the Warm Springs and Deschutes Rivers. It has so far burned an estimated 5,000 acres of brush, grass and juniper. The fire is bordered on the north by the Warm Springs River, on the east by the Deschutes River and runs to the east of the Wolfe Point area. There is no estimate on containment. Warm Springs Fire Management’s William Wilson says a total of 65 personnel responded Sunday, not including support staff. Additional crews have been ordered – Type 2 crews from Vale and Grand Ronde and 10 additional engines along with 2 tenders. Helicopters with buckets can be seen in the area of the fire.  The roads to Lower Dry Creek Campground, the Wolfe Point subdivision and at Culpus Bridge are closed, except to residents and fire personnel. We will provide updated closure information when we get it. There are no details on a possible cause, it remains under investigation. No structures are reported to be threatened at this time. There is a Fire Information line available – the number is 541-553-8190.