The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are facing a compounding crisis this week as a critical water shortage — driven in part by the ongoing Bench Fire emergency — has pushed the reservation community to its limits. Storage tanks have reached critically low levels, a boil water advisory has been issued, and at least six homes have been destroyed since the fire began.

Tribal officials issued a public notice urging residents to conserve water immediately, asking community members to stop using sprinklers, irrigation systems, and swimming pools. The notice followed a boil water advisory instructing residents to boil all water before use.

An Infrastructure Crisis Years in the Making

While the Bench Fire has intensified the strain, Warm Springs' water system troubles are not new. Ryan Barnes, director of the Roaring River Water Collective, has been delivering water to the community for years.

"The infrastructure is old and started failing in 2019 — 40- to 50-year-old infrastructure," Barnes said.

Barnes noted that despite the hardship, the Warm Springs community has shown remarkable resilience. A community cafeteria has been set up as an evacuation hub, feeding between 100 and 200 people per day.

"Warm Springs is an extremely resilient community," Barnes said. "They're amazing."

Bench Fire Reaches 60,000-Plus Acres

The Bench Fire, which merged with the Beachcomb Fire last week, had grown to more than 60,000 acres as of Friday and remained only 47% contained as of August 1. Tribal Chairman Dennis White declared an emergency, prompting a request for federal resources. The tribe's treaty-based federal agreements have helped unlock some of those resources.

At least six homes and five additional structures have been destroyed on the reservation, according to state fire officials. Jefferson County Secretary-Treasurer and CEO Edward Henderson said the losses extend far beyond the physical structures themselves.

Central Oregon Neighbors Rally to Help

Communities across the region are responding. The Community Presbyterian Church in Redmond organized a baby supply drive through August 5, collecting diapers, baby formula, and baby wipes for Warm Springs families.

"We just wanted to invite the community to join us in supporting our family up in Warm Springs in this practical way," said church spokesperson Gina Sherrell.

In Terrebonne, DD Ranch owner Linda Anspach — whose husband worked for the tribe for nine years — used social media to raise awareness of the fire's impact. Anspach said a recent fire near her own property gave her a new sense of what reservation residents are going through.

"You just never know whether the fire is going to impact you," Anspach said. "It's hard not to feel pretty sensitive to those people that are already displaced."

How to Help

  • Baby supply donations: Community Presbyterian Church, Redmond (through August 5 — diapers, formula, baby wipes)
  • Water deliveries: Roaring River Water Collective
  • Check the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs official channels for updated donation and volunteer information

Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in effect across the Warm Springs Reservation and Jefferson County. Residents are urged to monitor official fire information sources and follow all evacuation orders.