After weeks of emergency response, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS) are shifting from crisis mode to the long and difficult work of recovery following the Bench Fire — one of the largest wildfires to burn on the reservation in recent memory.
The Bench Fire, which ignited July 23, grew to just over 67,000 acres before firefighters achieved containment. InciWeb posted a final operational update on Aug. 9, and structural firefighting resources from the Oregon State Fire Marshal have since demobilized or been reassigned to other fires statewide.
Boil Water Notice Lifted
In a significant milestone for the reservation community, the CTWS Public Utilities Department announced last week that a boil water notice — put in place after fire damage disrupted infrastructure — had been lifted. A mandatory water conservation notice was also ended, signaling that utility systems damaged during the fire emergency have been stabilized.
For thousands of reservation residents who spent nearly a week without reliable power or clean water following the fire’s peak, the announcement marked a critical step toward normalcy.
Recovery Fund Surpasses Goal
Community generosity has been striking: the CTWS Wildfire Recovery Fund has raised $324,095 — more than 130 percent of its original $250,000 goal. Tribal leaders expressed gratitude while making clear that the work ahead is far from over.
“Your generosity after the Bench and Beachcomb Fires has helped care for families, elders, children, and neighbors. Because of that outpouring, our immediate supply needs are met, and storage areas are full. But the work ahead is bigger than this moment. Recovery will take months and years, and every gift helps our people rebuild with care, dignity, and hope.”
The tribe noted that while physical supply donations are no longer needed due to full storage, financial contributions continue to support longer-term rebuilding efforts including housing repairs, infrastructure restoration, and community programs.
How to Help
Donations to the CTWS Wildfire Recovery Fund can be made through the tribe’s official fundraising page via Zeffy. For questions about recovery programs or support services on the reservation, residents can contact the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs directly at warmsprings-nsn.gov or through their official Facebook page.
Tribal leaders have cautioned that full recovery — including rebuilding homes, repairing cultural sites, restoring grazing lands, and replanting burned forest — will be a multi-year process requiring sustained community and government support.