Akawa Butte Fire designated nation's top priority as Oregon braces for high winds

Lightning-sparked fire near Sisters burns 42 square miles, destroys 2 homes

Firefighters battling the Akawa Butte Fire near the central Oregon town of Sisters had carved containment lines around portions of the blaze by Friday, but officials warned that strong winds and low humidity forecast through Saturday could push the fire toward more populated areas.

The lightning-sparked wildfire, which ignited on July 16, has burned 42 square miles (109 square kilometers) and destroyed two homes, according to the Associated Press.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said Friday that the blaze had been designated the nation’s top priority wildfire because of its proximity to people. The designation authorizes state officials to request firefighting resources from other states and from other countries, Kotek said.

Strong winds and low humidity were expected to arrive later Friday and continue into Saturday, conditions that officials said could lead to increased fire activity. They urged residents in the area to be prepared to evacuate if conditions deteriorate.

The Akawa Butte Fire, burning about 22 miles (35 kilometers) northwest of Bend, is one of the two largest wildfires currently burning in Oregon. Firefighters across the state are contending with dozens of active blazes amid dry conditions that have heightened wildfire risk across the Pacific Northwest.

Crews have built containment lines around portions of the fire, but officials said the incoming wind and dry weather could test those lines. The fire started during a period of thunderstorms that swept across Oregon in mid-July, with lightning igniting multiple blazes in dry vegetation.

The federal top-priority designation gives Oregon access to a broader pool of firefighting aircraft, ground crews, and equipment from other states and allied countries, according to state officials. The designation is typically reserved for wildfires that pose the greatest immediate threat to lives and property.

Oregon’s wildfire season has intensified over the past two weeks as multiple rounds of thunderstorms and lightning strikes have ignited new fires across the state. Much of the region has been under dry conditions that have left vegetation primed to burn.