Sisters

The Deschutes County Sheriff downgraded some evacuation levels Tuesday for the Akawa Butte Fire in Central Oregon.

Some evacuation levels have been reduced for the Akawa Butte Fire burning near Sisters.

The Akawa Butte fire has burned 26,000 acres. The fire remains the nation’s top priority for firefighting resources.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek gave a press briefing Friday in the town of Sisters, where the nearby Akawa Butte Fire has already burned at least two homes and is the number one priority wildfire in the nation, officials say.

Nearly 2,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as heat and dry winds continue to fuel the Akawa Butte Fire near Sisters, Oregon.

Various levels of evacuations are in place in both Deschutes and Jefferson Counties, including some just outside Sisters city limits.

Voters in three Deschutes County fire districts are being asked to decide on levies that could fund emergency staffing and cut response times.

Firefighters in Central Oregon made significant progress against the state’s largest fire over the weekend, despite difficult weather conditions.

The southern edge of the Flat Fire threatened thousands of homes as it moved toward Sisters, but crews said Monday morning they had stopped it from moving in that direction.

The blaze started Thursday evening and has grown to more than 18,000 acres.

The Deschutes County Sheriff says the plane’s three occupants managed to escape with minor injuries.

By October, the Sisters Community Garden must vacate its current space at the Sisters Eagle Airport.