Warm Springs Fire Brings Smoke, Haze

Fire crews are making  progress.   But they’re worried about weather that could impact their work on the wildfire burning near Warm Springs.

Hundreds of firefighters have gotten to 10% containment of the S503 wildfire, southeast of Mount Hood. The list of weapons they’re using, sounds like a war zone: hotshot crews, initial attack crews, a heavy helicopter, 16 engines, and 4 dozers. They’re worried about the possible impact of near record hot and windy weather today. Fire spokesman Javin Dimmick tells us he’s urging drivers in the area, especially on Highway 26, to be careful of smoke and emergency personnel. As the wildfire continues to burn in timber and grasses on the Confederated Tribe of the Warm Springs Reservation, what’s at stake, is not only lives and homes but archeological and cultural items.

The fire sparked up Friday.  It has grown to more than 6,200 acres

Communities like Pine Grove and Walter’s Corner are under level two evacuation orders.  That means GET SET.

Andrew Mendolia posted video of the growing plumes of smoke on social media.  He said, “The fire up by Hood is getting real wild. It’s getting bigger, quickly.”
So much bigger that the wildfire near Warm Springs has burned 6,700 acres, pushing smoke into the Portland area.

The fire stretches across about 10 and a half square miles: large enough that you might notice haze and smoke in the metro area.

The fire started Friday evening on the north side of the Warm Springs Reservation.
Firefighters believe it started Friday afternoon off Highway 216, on the north side of the Warm Springs Reservation.