The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday for abundant lightning.    

Governor Tina Kotek declared a conflagration for another Central Oregon wildfire Monday. The Akawa Butte and Brewer fires continue to force evacuations in Deschutes and Jefferson counties. The Akawa Butte Fire, 13 miles northeast of Sisters, has burned over 10-thousand acres. And, the Brewer Fire, 13 miles east of Madras, has burned over 24-thousand acres. Oregon’s largest incident is the Rowe Creek Complex, south of Fossil … it’s burned nearly 143-thousand acres. The Hay Creek Complex, west of Condon, is 123-thousand acres. Outside Post, the Coyote Fire is now at 21-thousand acres, with the nearby Henry Fire at 20-thousand. In Southern Oregon, the East Evans Creek fire is 15-thousand acres.

By comparison, last year there were 26 fires burning more than 142-thousand acres through this date. This year, there are 40 large fires that are burning more than 410-thousand acres.

The Akawa Butte Fire near Crooked River Ranch is more than 6,800-acres. The distance to the fire perimeter -  8 miles east of Camp Sherman, over 10 miles north of Sisters, 9 miles west of Culver and 6.6 miles southwest from Cove Palisades State Park.

The public is asked to take caution and be aware while driving in the region due to increased fire activity and equipment, especially around the Sisters Rodeo grounds which has heavy equipment and crews entering and leaving at all hours.

Fire officials and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office have updated evacuation levels for the Akawa Butte Fire as fire activity continues to shift and threaten nearby areas.

The following area is now at Level 3 (Go Now):

Northern part of Stevens Canyon Road between Forest Road 2050 and west of Wilt Road north of Big Buck Road.

Level 2 (Be Set)

Addresses on the east side of Wilt Road, north of Big Buck Road to the county line.

Sisters High School is now the shelter location for those needing assistance due to evacuations from the Akawa Butte Fire. 

The Akawa Butte virtual community meeting scheduled for 7 PM Monday, July 20^th. See the Akawa Butte Fire Facebook page for more details.

(pic from Bend Chamber)

Property-owner opposition has halted Bend’s proposed Central District Economic Improvement District. City Manager Eric King says the objection level exceeded the threshold allowed under state law, where opposition from 33 percent or more of affected owners prevents an assessment from moving forward.

The district was intended to help fund promotion, events, business development, and upkeep of public facilities in Bend’s Core Area. King says some owners felt the plan was premature, with redevelopment still in transition and projects not yet fully in place.

The City Council is expected to formally rescind the ordinance that created the district. King says broader redevelopment plans for the Core Area will continue.

pic: Chief Mike Krantz

Bend Police are offering more detail on technology used during last week’s suspect search. Officers were looking Thursday for a person who had eluded police, before making an arrest Friday. Chief Mike Krantz says Reverse 911 lets police send targeted alerts to people registered within a specific area near an active response. He says drones also help officers safely assess a scene before moving in. By getting an overhead view, police can locate a suspect, track their position, and guide officers in cautiously. Krantz tells KBND News those tools are improving safety for officers, suspects, and the community.

pic: Steve Gunnels, D.A.

Criminal cases are slowing in Deschutes County as more defendants are found unable to understand charges or help their attorneys. District Attorney Steve Gunnels says the county’s aid-and-assist docket has more than doubled in recent years — from 24 people in January 2020, to 36 in 2022, and 53 this year. Gunnels says the main bottleneck is limited space at the Oregon State Hospital, where defendants receive treatment aimed at restoring competency for trial. He says the growing strain reflects a broader rise in severe mental illness, creating delays locally and across the state.