Bay Area firefighters from San Francisco and Alameda County have been dispatched to central Oregon for the nation’s highest-priority wildfire.
The Akawa Butte Fire, located 13 miles northeast of Sisters, Oregon, has consumed more than 27,000 acres across Deschutes and Jefferson counties and prompted local evacuations.
The National Multi-Agency Coordination Group, which prioritizes firefighting resources across the U.S., set the wildfire response to Preparedness Level 5, the highest stage.
The San Francisco Fire Department said it sent Task Force 2801, a specialized unit with two four-wheel-drive wildland fire engines designed for rugged terrain where larger engines cannot go.
They will work alongside two engines from Alameda County Fire Department used for wildland and urban-interface firefighting.
The lightning-sparked Akawa Butte Fire has drawn more than 1,100 personnel and international resources.
“The Akawa Butte Fire remains the nation’s highest-priority fire for resource allocation,” according to the U.S. Incident Information System.
Hot, dry, and windy conditions contributed to active fire behavior throughout the day. A Red Flag Warning was in effect until 10 p.m. for strong winds, critically low relative humidity, and warm temperatures, contributing to “rapid fire growth,” it said.
Hundreds of people had been ordered to evacuate and thousands in Sisters were told to be ready to flee.