Firefighters working to hold back two of Oregon’s largest wildfires are preparing for a dangerous stretch of weather, with dry, windy conditions expected to arrive in parts of the state Friday and continuing into Saturday.
Crews battling the Akawa Butte Fire have managed to establish some containment lines around the blaze, which is burning near Sisters — a town located roughly 22 miles (35 kilometers) northwest of Bend. The fire ignited from a lightning strike on July 16 and has since burned through 42 square miles (109 square kilometers), destroying two homes in its path.
Federal officials have designated the Akawa Butte Fire as the highest-priority wildfire in the country due to how close it is burning to populated areas. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said Friday that the designation allows the state to draw on firefighting resources from other states and even other nations.
Forecasters are warning that strong winds paired with low humidity could cause fire activity to surge later Friday and into Saturday. Authorities are urging residents in the area to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice if evacuation orders are issued.
The National Weather Service has put central Oregon under a red-flag warning through Saturday, signaling that a combination of low moisture, warm temperatures, and gusty winds could create extreme wildfire danger.
Sisters Mayor Jennifer Letz said the next 24 to 48 hours will be the most critical for the town of 3,800 people, which sits about 3 miles (5 kilometers) south of the fire. She noted that roughly half of the town’s residents have been told to have a plan and be ready to go if needed.
