Firefighters battling the Akawa Butte Fire near Sisters, Oregon are racing against the clock as a forecasted wind shift and drying pattern threaten to undo overnight progress made along the fire's perimeter. As of the morning of July 24, 2026, evacuation orders remain in place across portions of Deschutes and Jefferson counties, with residents under Level 1 (Be Ready), Level 2 (Get Set), and Level 3 (Go Now) orders depending on their location.

Overnight Progress, Daytime Threat

Night crews took advantage of calm winds and 100 percent relative humidity to build direct control line wherever terrain and fuels allowed. Structural task forces focused on point protection and clearing debris from around at-risk structures in the active fire area.

The picture is expected to change significantly through the day. Relative humidity is forecast to drop to around 30 percent by midday, with temperatures reaching the low 90s near Sisters. Sustained winds are expected to shift from a prevailing north-northeast direction to west-northwest by noon — a change that could push fire toward the southern portions of the incident where containment lines are thinner.

Incident commanders are directing aircraft toward the southern flank of the fire, north of Sisters, with an emphasis on aerial support for ground crews working to hold lines south of SW Jordan Road ahead of the wind shift.

Closures and Infrastructure Impacts

Multiple road closures went into effect July 22, including Middle View Road, Indian Ford Road, and the section between Green Ridge Road and Meadow View Road. Central Electric Cooperative has de-energized power to homes on Stevens Canyon Road to Pine Glen Road and north of Indian Ford Road to reduce ignition risks in the active fire area. Residents should visit the Central Electric Coop website at cec.coop for current outage information.

The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service have implemented area, road, and trail closures in and around the fire. BLM closure information is available at blm.gov, and the Deschutes National Forest has issued a formal fire closure order.

Community Meeting Held

An in-person community meeting was held July 23 at Sisters High School Auditorium, with a livestream provided for residents unable to attend due to evacuations. Incident managers discussed fire behavior, containment strategy, and the forecast for the coming days.

Evacuation Information

  • Deschutes County: Check sheriff.deschutes.org/news for current evacuation zones
  • Jefferson County: Visit the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office website for zone maps and updates
  • Interactive Evacuation Map: Available through ArcGIS Experience for both counties
  • Air Quality: Monitor conditions at fire.airnow.gov

Residents in Level 1 zones should be prepared to leave at any time and should have go-bags ready with medications, important documents, pet supplies, and enough supplies for 72 hours. Those in Level 2 zones should be prepared to leave on short notice. Anyone in a Level 3 zone must leave immediately.

The fire is being managed by a Type 1 Incident Management Team and remains a top priority incident within the Northwest Geographic Area.