Local News

State of Emergency Declared on Warm Springs Reservation 

Posted on by elizabeth.smith
27
Jul

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. — A wildfire emergency has gripped the Warm Springs Reservation, forcing evacuations, shutting down tribal government operations, and triggering widespread public safety orders.

Today, Tribal Chairman Dennis White III and the 30th Tribal Council released an official statement to tribal membership following the formal signing of a Declaration of a State of Emergency. The decision comes as the Beachcomb Fire and the Bench Fire—which ignited Thursday, July 23—merged into a massive, uncontrolled complex that has burned over 40,000 acres with 0% containment.

“First and foremost, I want to send prayers to our community, our people, and our Nation. My thoughts are especially with the families who have lost their homes during these devastating fires,” Chairman White said in his address to the community. “These fires have impacted every one of us and have been life-changing for many of our Tribal members.”

Rapid Expansion and “Go Now” Evacuations

Driven by high winds, dry timber, and light ladder fuels, the merged complex is actively moving northeast toward populated areas. Fire Incident Command maintains strict Level 3 “GO NOW” Evacuation Orders for multiple communities, including:

  • Upper Seekseequa and Lower Seekseequa

  • Dry Hollow

  • Jackson Trail

  • Tenino Road

  • The central Agency area

Emergency shelters have been opened for displaced residents and livestock, with officials estimating that roughly 3,000 people are impacted or at risk. While no fire-related injuries or fatalities have been confirmed, leadership noted that several homes have already been lost.

Industrial Shutdown and Fire Restrictions

In response to extreme fire behavior, U.S. Wildland Fire Service NW Tribal Deputy Unit Chief Brad Donahue announced that the Warm Springs Reservation has entered an IFPL Level 4 General Shutdown across all three industrial zones as of Monday morning. Commercial operations and forestry equipment usage have been halted.

Public safety authorities have also enacted a reservation-wide burn ban:

  • Prohibited: Open burning, campfires, charcoal briquette fires, and wood or twig stoves. Internal combustion engines (chainsaws, portable generators) are also banned, except for emergency residential power generation.

  • Allowed: Pressurized gas or liquid fuel camp stoves (e.g., propane).

  • Fireworks: Explosives and fireworks remain strictly prohibited on all tribal lands.

Public Utilities Impact: Water Orders and Power Outages

The ongoing emergency has severely strained local infrastructure, with more than 400 firefighters and heavy apparatus drawing heavily on public utilities:

  • Emergency Water Conservation Order: A mandatory conservation order is in effect for Culpus Ranch, Sunnyside, Wolfe Point, Dry Creek, Industrial Park, Miller Heights, Campus, the Highway 26 Corridor, Greeley Heights, Trailer Courts, Tenino Apartments, Tenino Valley, and West Hills. High-consumption uses—such as watering lawns, washing cars, or filling livestock tanks—are prohibited as municipal reservoirs struggle to transfer water across zones.

  • Boil Water Notice: Public Utilities issued a precautionary Boil Water Notice for all areas south of Shitike Creek due to potential loss of water pressure in the system.

  • Prolonged Power Outages: Pacific Power reported severe damage to transmission and distribution lines. Active fire conditions are limiting crew access, and customers are warned to prepare for multi-day outages.

Government Closures and School Adjustments

All non-essential Warm Springs Tribal Government offices will remain closed through Tuesday, July 28. Leadership plans to assess evacuation levels and fire behavior Tuesday afternoon to determine whether offices can safely reopen on Wednesday, July 29.

Meanwhile, Jefferson County School District 509J announced that summer programming at Madras High School, Bridges High School, and Madras Elementary will operate on an abbreviated schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday to avoid peak afternoon wind conditions. District buses will not enter Level 2 or Level 3 evacuation zones.

Emergency Declaration and Federal Aid

The 7-day State of Emergency Declaration invokes the Tribe’s sovereign authority under its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and the Treaty of 1855. The order allows tribal officials to request and accept direct emergency resources, technical assistance, and financial aid from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the State of Oregon, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our Nation,” Chairman White emphasized. “Together we will support one another as we move through this emergency.”

elizabeth.smith