The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Akawa Butte Fire burning in Jefferson and Deschutes counties, and directly next to the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, in Oregon.
The state of Oregon’s request for a declaration under FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program was approved by FEMA Region 10 Acting Regional Administrator Vincent J. Maykovich on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 10:25 p.m. PT. He determined that the Akawa Butte Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the second FMAG declaration in 2026 to help fight Oregon wildfires.
At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire threatened homes in and around the communities of Sisters, Lake Billy Chinook, Black Butte Ranch and Camp Sherman. The fire also threatened fire stations, private commercial radio stations, private cellular towers, and power transmission lines and utilities.
The original announcement can be found here.
