Incident Information:
Fire Information Line: 503-877-9324, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/akawabuttefire
Email: akawabuttefire@gmail.com
FIRE AT A GLANCE
Akawa Butte Fire
Estimated Size: 27,308 acres
Containment: 6%
Cause: Lightning
Evacuations: Level 1–3 evacuations are in effect
Resources
Total Personnel: 1,668
Hand Crews: 49
Engines: 90
Water Tenders: 30
Dozers: 20
Aviation:
Helicopters
Type1 6
Type 2 9
Type 3 4
Incident Commanders:
ODF IMT Incident Commander Matt Howard
OSFM Incident Commander Ian Yocum
Sisters, Ore. (July 27, 2026) – Cooler temperatures and calm winds assisted night crews in continuing to secure and strengthen lines around the Akawa Butte Fire. Mop-up and structure protection were the priorities, with crews focused on increasing the amount of cooled ground around the edges of the fire.
Crews were able to take advantage of last night’s favorable weather conditions and shifted from direct suppression to mop-up to secure perimeters and structure zones. Crews worked through the night to extinguish heat and increase the depth of cooled ground up to 50 feet interior of control lines. Structure crews focused on maximizing defensible space around homes and structures along Blazer Lane, Little Buck Road, Big Buck Road and in the Stevens Canyon area.
Today, crews will continue aggressively mopping up and creating depth to hold lines and reduce the potential for spot fires. Task forces will concentrate on structure zones to monitor heat pockets and continue securing perimeters around structures. As the threat to structures continues to diminish, night structure resources will begin tapering down to help other fires in the region.
Closed areas and evacuation orders remain in place for public and firefighter safety. Residents are encouraged to use caution, follow posted guidance, and give emergency personnel room to work in areas where evacuations have been lifted.
Weather and Fire Behavior
Elevated fire conditions are expected today with continued hot, dry, weather and breezy northwest winds will persist.
Evacuations
Evacuation orders are issued by the county sheriff’s offices. For the most up-to-date information, visit:
Deschutes County: https://sheriff.deschutes.org/news/
For an interactive map: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6f8868c4477e462b8a653a89260268fc
Jefferson County: http://bit.ly/3R3V6pu
Closures
The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service have implemented closures in and around the fire area.
BLM Closures and Restrictions: https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2026-07/orwa-fpo-pri-jefferson-071826.pdf
U.S. Forest Service – Deschutes National Forest Closure: `
Air Quality
Air quality: https://fire.airnow.gov/
Smoke outlook information: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/6aaf6480
Highway Closures
Trip Check: https://tripcheck.com/