Mecca Fire Morning Fire Update – July 3, 2018

The Mecca Fire started around 3pm yesterday afternoon (7/2/18) near the Warm Springs Forest Products mill site and quickly spread due to strong winds – pushing across highway 26 up toward Greeley Heights and down the Deschutes River Canyon along Jackson Trail Road.

The fire is estimated at 800 acres this morning.  A Central Oregon type 3 team will be taking over command of the fire at 6am this morning.  Resources today will include 8 hand crews including 3 hot shot teams, 15 engines, 6 tenders plus local resources.

Structural protection near Warm Springs Composite Products is being manned by Warm Springs Fire & Safety.

Fire retardant drops and helicopters with buckets of water worked into the evening yesterday slowing the progress of the advancing wildfire.  Residents of Greeley Heights along Mt Jefferson Street to the Water Tower Road were on a level 3 evacuation with the remainder of Greeley Heights issued a level 2 evacuation.  The Museum at Warm Springs and Indian Head Casino were closed an evacuated at 5pm.  A Red Cross Evacuation Center was set up at the Warm Springs Community Center.

Highway 26 was closed until 9pm last night with traffic rerouted through Maupin.

According to Warm Springs Fire Management Logistics Officer, William Wilson, winds are expected to be moderate today through Thursday.  Areas of focus on the fire perimeter include the hillside along Jackson Trail Road, The Greeley Heights subdivision and the Dry Hollow area.