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Bayhorse Silver Inc. (TSXV:BHS) has paused underground drilling operations at its Bayhorse Silver Mine in Oregon due to a significant wildfire that ignited near Fox Creek on July 24, 2026. The fire expanded to over 45,000 acres by July 25, leading to closures along an 80-mile section of Interstate I-84 and triggering evacuation orders in the area. The company reported that it cannot yet assess the full impact on its mining facilities because of restricted access, although the mine benefits from its close location to the Brownlee Reservoir.
Key Points
- Bayhorse Silver Inc. (TSXV:BHS) suspended drilling on July 24, 2026, following a wildfire about 7 miles north of the Bayhorse Silver Mine
- By July 25, the wildfire had spread to over 45,000 acres, reaching Huntington near Interstate I-84
- At suspension, underground drilling included a newly initiated easterly drill hole and plans for four additional holes measuring 300–350 feet east of the known inferred resource
- The company will issue operational updates once evacuation orders are lifted and site access is restored
Wildfire Location and Mine Site Details
The Bayhorse Silver Mine is situated in Oregon between Fox Creek and Huntington, adjacent to the Snake River's Brownlee Reservoir. CEO Graeme O'Neill noted that the mine site itself has minimal wildfire fuel and is located within 300 feet of the reservoir, though wildfire behavior near large water bodies remains unpredictable. O'Neill, who was near the mine during the announcement, indicated that access to the site could be possible within days pending official clearance.
The wildfire originated near Fox Creek, roughly 7 miles north of the mine, on the afternoon of July 24. By July 25, it had expanded significantly to over 45,000 acres and reached Huntington beside Interstate I-84, causing an 80-mile highway closure and severely limiting regional access. Due to these constraints and ongoing evacuation orders, Bayhorse stated it could not evaluate the full extent of any damage or operational disruptions at the time.
Underground Drilling Status at Suspension
When operations were halted on July 24 afternoon, underground drilling was actively underway at the Bayhorse site. The company had recently started a new easterly drill hole and planned a series of four additional holes, each between 300 and 350 feet, targeting areas east of the current inferred resource zone.
This drilling was part of ongoing exploration and resource definition efforts. The inferred resource at Bayhorse, per company filings, totals 292,300 tons with a grade of 21.65 ounces per ton (673 grams per tonne), amounting to 6.3 million ounces of silver. The easterly drilling program aimed to expand knowledge of mineralization in adjacent zones.
Bulk Sampling and Crushing Circuit Progress
Besides exploration drilling, Bayhorse had achieved full operational status of its crushing circuit at suspension time. The crushing equipment had started processing material from the bulk sampling program, marking a key milestone toward production at the mine.
The company did not disclose specific production volumes, throughput, or processing schedules. However, the crushing circuit’s operational status before suspension indicates progress toward active mineral processing and recovery.
Recent Equipment Deliveries to Mine
Bayhorse reported receiving important equipment shortly before the wildfire. This included a John Deere 325 G skidsteer vehicle for mine service support and a 45-foot by 25-foot metal building intended as a core shack for storing, logging, and analyzing drill core samples.
These additions reflect ongoing investment in mine infrastructure and support facilities, with deliveries occurring just prior to the suspension, highlighting the company’s active development and commissioning phase.
Mine Processing Capacity and Operational Setup
The Bayhorse Silver Mine is described as a low environmental impact facility capable of processing up to 200 tons of ore daily. It features a modern 40-ton-per-hour Steinert Ore-Sorter, which reportedly reduces waste rock in the processing stream by up to 85 percent.
Additionally, Bayhorse operates a 60-ton-per-day mill with flotation processing in nearby Payette County, Idaho. The company has an offtake agreement with Ocean Partners UK Limited for silver concentrate. This infrastructure supports both exploration drilling and production-scale mineral recovery.
Operational Suspension and Future Updates
Bayhorse has pledged to provide further operational updates once evacuation orders are lifted and site access resumes. As of the July 27 announcement, the company could not specify damage assessments, facility conditions, equipment status, or the overall operational impact.
CEO Graeme O'Neill indicated that site inspections might be possible within days, depending on fire containment and official clearance. No specific date for the next update or contingency plans for prolonged closure were provided.
Inferred Resource and Project Locations
The Bayhorse Silver Mine holds a National Instrument 43-101 inferred resource of 292,300 tons grading 21.65 ounces per ton (673 grams per tonne), totaling 6.3 million ounces of silver, based on Turner et al. 2018. This resource underpins the company’s exploration and production strategy in Oregon.
Bayhorse also owns the Pegasus Project in Washington County, Idaho, a porphyry copper prospect. Both Bayhorse and Pegasus are located 44 kilometres southwest of Hercules Metals’ porphyry copper discovery.
Management and Technical Team Expertise
The company has assembled an experienced management and technical team with extensive expertise in mining exploration and development. Mark Abrams, AIPG, a Qualified Person and Director, prepared or approved the technical content of the announcement.
CEO Graeme O'Neill provided updates on the wildfire incident and was present on-site during the emergency, offering first-hand observations to the board and shareholders.
Forward-Looking Statements and Risks
The company included comprehensive forward-looking statement disclaimers, noting actual outcomes may differ materially from expectations. Key assumptions include stable precious metals markets and silver prices, absence of major macroeconomic disruptions, ongoing market liquidity, recovery in junior mining investor sentiment, and timely regulatory approvals.
Risk factors cited include metal and commodity price volatility, availability of equity capital, market volatility, economic conditions, macroeconomic shocks, trade policy uncertainty, market liquidity constraints, timing of TSX Venture Exchange approvals, and potential deviations in market recovery timing. Readers are referred to the company’s latest Management's Discussion and Analysis on SEDAR+ for full risk disclosures.
