Warm Springs fire now 9,200 acres, 80 percent contained

Hot, windy weather Monday fueled a wildfire burning on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, nearly doubling in size to 9,000 acres, but crews also made strong progress and brought it to 80 percent containment, officials said.

Nearly 200 firefighters and support personnel were on the Rattlesnake Fire, which broke out late Sunday afternoon 10 miles north-northeast of Warm Springs.

Four helicopters and six single-engine air tankers also were working Monday to hold the fire within its perimeter.

One area of concern Tuesday was the northwest portion of the fire perimeter, where it crossed the Warm Springs River.

Crews made good progress Monday night on securing that part of the fire. If those lines hold Tuesday, the fire may approach full containment Wednesday, officials said in an update posted to the Northwest Coordination Center website.

Structural protection remained in place for homes in the Culpus Bridge area. The Webster Flat road near the Wolfe Point subdivision and Highway 8 east of the Kah-Nee-Ta Resort were still closed to the general public.

The fire was active Monday night across from Culpus Bridge, above the golf course at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort. But officials said there were no imminent threats to the resort or the Charlie Canyon subdivision.

Road closures remained in effect for the E-130 road to the Deschutes River and the Kah-Nee-Ta BIA Route 5 from the lodge turnoff up to the Wolfe Point subdivision. The Dry Creek Campground remained closed., but officials said it might be able to reopen for limited use by mid-week.

Earlier Monday, officials said the fire had burned south from the Warm Springs River toward the Warm Springs Forest Products Industry park and Lower Dry Creek campground up the Deschutes River.

It was burning in an abundant annual grass savanna with patches of a steppe shrub component of sage and bitter brush. Scattered juniper stands are also in the perimeter.

The fire made upslope runs from the Warm Springs and Deschutes river bottoms and when established on the steppe of Webster Flat made significant wind-driven runs across Webster Flats that prompted road closures and structure protection for Wolfe Point and a warning to the resort on Sunday.

The wind-fanned wildfire broke out late Sunday afternoon and raced across 5,000 acres of grass, brush and juniper near the confluence of the Warm Springs and Deschutes rivers, sending smoke billowing south across much of the High Desert.

The Rattlesnake Fire, which began near Rattlesnake Springs, was reported just before 4 p.m. Sunday, said William Wilson, assistant fire management officer for logistics with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs. The cause was under investigation.

With a hot week ahead, the potential for more fire growth is high. But officials are still hoping for full containment later in the week