Just after 8:30pm on Sunday evening, a wildfire started on the 1,019.385 square-mile Warm Springs Indian Reservation in north-central Oregon, home to and governed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Local news and radio stations in Warm Springs report that a blown transformer apparently sparked a wildfire, which due to strong winds, caused it to move up a hill behind the Indian Head Casino, then race erratically north and east through mostly grassy terrain quickly spreading to envelop about 2,000 acres, said officials.
The wildfire, for a time, reportedly closed off a nine-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 26 and Highway 3 on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.
On Monday, Warm Springs radio station KWSO reported that active fire continues to burn in Lower Dry Creek located near the Deschutes River.
Also on Monday, additional resources were ordered by Warm Springs Fire Management, with local crews needing time off after having responded yesterday to other local fires and then working through the night. The news agency reported that eight fire engines were on their way, with 4 to 20 person crews, helicopter air support, and water tenders.
The news agency reported on Monday that all roads were open in Warm Springs and that work was on schedule.