A new wildfire was reported Thursday evening at the Warm Springs Mill according to a Facebook post by the Warm Springs Police Department.
Warm Springs Wildland Fire Public Information Officer Javin Dimmick told Central Oregon Daily News by phone that they were told there are two small fires burning, which might have crossed the Deschutes River.
Overall, the fire is being called the Lower Deck Fire, which started Wednesday morning at the mill and was kept to one acre.
Dimmick said Thursday afternoon the fire flared up again and spotted on the east side of the Deschutes River.
He said the Lower Deck Fire is estimated at 600 acres as of Thursday night.
Aerial resources are assisting in the effort.
Three helicopters are working with bucket drops, 2 single-engine air attacks are assisting, and a heavy air tanker is dropping retardant.
Warm Springs Fire Management is being assisted by Bureau of Land Management crews as well as Zig Zag Hot Shot resources.
Crews have lined the south side of the canyon.
Highway 26 is closed at the Pelton Dam turn-off and the Highway 26 & Highway 3 junction; drivers should use alternate routes.
TripCheck shows Highway 26 as closed between milepost 103 and milepost 110.
This is a developing story and we’re working to get more information.
