The Bench Fire has grown to 60,271 acres as of Wednesday evening and remains just 3% contained, fire officials confirmed — a sobering benchmark for a blaze that ignited on July 23 four miles southwest of Warm Springs and has since become the dominant disaster facing Jefferson County this summer.

The Northwest Command Center and incident spokesperson Kelsey Fortnam confirmed the fire has destroyed six homes and five additional structures on the Warm Springs Reservation. More than 580 firefighters and support personnel are currently assigned to the blaze, which continues to burn through grass, shrub, and ponderosa pine.

Firefighters Defend Pelton Dam, Hold East Lines

Overnight crews conducted firing operations to establish a containment line along the northwest perimeter of the fire. Thursday's priorities include securing and strengthening that line, mopping up the east side, and addressing areas where fire has breached established boundaries.

Oregon State Fire Marshal task forces have been running structural protection operations in the Pelton Dam and Seekseequa Road areas — a critical stretch that includes key hydroelectric infrastructure serving Central Oregon's electrical grid along the Deschutes River. Throughout Wednesday, firefighters quickly extinguished several hotspots and flare-ups near homes, preventing rekindling from threatening additional structures.

Aerial resources are now fully committed to the Bench Fire and will conduct strategic bucket drops through Thursday's operational period. An initial attack group has been established to respond to any new starts within the fire zone.

A Cooler Front Offers Measured Hope

Temperatures Wednesday pushed into the high 80s, but an incoming front of cooler and drier air is forecast to lower humidities in the coming days — a modest break for crews battling winds that have driven unpredictable fire runs throughout the week.

"The terrain is a little rough, and the winds have been changing," spokesperson Fortnam said. "That low humidity, the dry temperatures, the hot temperatures — it all leads to fire spread, and the fuels out here are just dry."

Evacuation Orders Remain Widespread

Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders remain in effect across most of the Warm Springs Reservation, including:

  • Warm Springs Agency District
  • Greeley Heights, Tenino Apartments, Trailer Courts
  • West Hill, Elmer Quinn Park, the Campus Area
  • Shitike Creek, Pelton Park, Pelton Dam, Dry Hollow, and Lake Simtustus

An interactive evacuation map is available through Jefferson County at fr911orgis.maps.arcgis.com. Road conditions are changing frequently — check tripcheck.com before traveling. The public information line is (541) 707-8719, staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Public Meeting Thursday — Livestreamed

Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4 and the Oregon State Fire Marshal Red Incident Management Team will hold a public meeting Thursday, July 30. The exact time and location will be announced ahead of the event. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the Bench Fire Facebook page at facebook.com/2026.benchfire — no login required. Click the gray "X" on any pop-up to access content.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs declared a State of Emergency on July 25. Residents are encouraged to monitor KWSO 91.9 FM and Jefferson County emergency notifications for real-time updates.