News Stories Jul. 3, 2018

The Mecca Fire started around 3pm Monday afternoon (7/2/18) near the Warm Springs Forest Products mill site and quickly spread, pushed by strong winds across Highway 26, up toward Greeley Heights and down the Deschutes River Canyon along Jackson Trail Road. The fire is estimated at 800 acres this morning.  A Central Oregon type-3 team was set to take command at 6:00 this morning.  Resources today will include 8 hand crews, including 3 hot shot teams, 15 engines, 6 tenders plus local resources.  Structural protection near Warm Springs Composite Products is being manned by Warm Springs Fire & Safety.  Fire retardant drops and helicopters with buckets of water worked into the evening yesterday slowing the progress of the advancing wildfire.  Residents of Greeley Heights along Mt Jefferson Street to the Water Tower Road were on a level 3 evacuation with the remainder of Greeley Heights issued a level 2 evacuation.  The Museum at Warm Springs and Indian Head Casino were closed an evacuated at 5pm.  A Red Cross Evacuation Center was set up at the Warm Springs Community Center. Highway 26 was closed until 9pm last night with traffic rerouted through Maupin. According to Warm Springs Fire Management Logistics Officer, William Wilson, winds are expected to be moderate today through Thursday.  Areas of focus on the fire perimeter include the hillside along Jackson Trail Road, The Greeley Heights subdivision and the Dry Hollow area.

ORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Multnomah County health officials say upward of 500 people might have been exposed to the measles after someone with the virus entered a child care center in Gresham. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the measles infection was confirmed Wednesday after an emergency room visit.

The hot, windy conditions fueling the fire and others across the West were expected to persist through the end of July in Utah and parts of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, U.S. fire officials said. The Southwest, which has been struggling with drought, should get enough rain in early July to reduce the risk of major blazes in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, the National Interagency Fire Center said Sunday.

At the Junior Softball State Tournament – Warm Springs Nation defeated Salem 13-1 and move on to the State Championship Thursday at 3:30.