Wildfires threaten homes on Oregon reservation

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (AP) — Firefighters are working to protect homes and other structures as numerous wildfires scorch thousands of acres in several areas of Oregon.

Warm Springs Fire Management says fires near the Warm Springs Reservation have grown to 1,800 acres. Residents of about 15 homes were put on an evacuation alert in the Sidwalter Area.

A blaze close to the town of Warm Springs burned 1,500 acres and prompted the evacuation of some homes to provide less congestion during burnout operations.

Meanwhile, the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center says lighting caused a series of fires around the central Oregon town of Clarno that have burned through 22,000 acres as of Saturday night. Containment was estimated at 50 percent but officials said the fires still threatened about 15 homes and 50 outbuildings.

The Desert Meadows fire began near Frenchglen, Ore., about 55 miles south of Burns, Ore. It was burning on about 1,500 acres and was 37 percent contained late Saturday.

Campgrounds in the area could be affected.