CTWS Bench Fire Communication and Impacts

Following a summer marked by severe wildfires across Central Oregon, community leaders on the Warm Springs Reservation are reflecting on emergency response efforts and recovery needs after the destructive Bench Fire.

The Bench Fire destroyed eight homes, including six on the reservation and two on tribally owned land off the reservation, along with five outbuildings such as hay barns and storage sheds. Multiple families were displaced, losing all of their belongings in the blaze.

Andrew Hofstetter, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, served as a direct liaison at the Incident Command Post during the crisis. Working alongside interagency teams such as the Southwest Complex Team 4, Hofstetter helped coordinate communication between tribal leadership and emergency responders dispatched from across the nation.

Centralized communication proved essential due to the fire’s rapid shifts and complex management logistics. Daily morning briefings allowed tribal leadership and response teams to synchronize updates in real time. Hofstetter and his team translated these reports into public broadcasts on local radio station KWSO 91.9 FM and across social media platforms to keep residents updated throughout the emergency.

The fire highlighted the unpredictable nature of wildland blazes. During a Level 3 evacuation order, flames jumped a primary road, forcing an unexpected closure along a major evacuation route. Hofstetter noted that such sudden shifts demonstrate the need for constant situational awareness during natural disasters. He urged residents to utilize digital tools like the free Watch Duty application to monitor fire activity while camping, hiking, or gathering huckleberries on tribal land.

Despite the significant property loss, relief efforts quickly emerged from both local community members and donors as far away as New York. Monetary contributions, bottled water, and essential supplies have arrived to support impacted families as they begin to rebuild. As wildfire season continues, tribal officials advise community members to remain cautious and vigilant across the region.

You can list to KWSO’s Podcast Version of our interview with CTWS Governmental Affairs Director Andrew Hofstetter:

KWSO Radio · Andrew Hofstetter CTWS Govt Affairs Bench Fire Response – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast