Sasquatch HI-MT Water, Inc

08/21/2026

Yesterday we received a dispatch call for the Rowe Creek Complex fire. This is burning primarily in Wheeler county Oregon. A series of thunderstorms moved through the Twickenham area on July 15th and 16th igniting 13 different wild fires. Since that time several of the fires have burned together and the ones that haven't burned together are being managed under the same overhead team.

Stats as of today:
373,981 acres and 89% contained
Fire perimeter is 601 miles long
1,208 people assigned
7 aircraft
27 hand crews
55 engines
10 dozers
21 water tenders
33 structures lost
Suppression cost to date: 87.3 million

Forecasted weather is for increased moisture in the middle and upper levels of the atmosphere with a weak storm system expected in the region Friday 8/21 and Saturday 8/22. Very little precipitation is expected but the winds will increase approaching 30 mph in areas.

We didn't take these pictures but here are a few of this complex.

07/30/2026

Final Akawa Butte Fire Update: We hit our 14 days on this fire today. No crew changes and no extensions are occurring so we demob tomorrow. Will come back home, clean up and get ready for the next possible dispatch.

Currently the fire sits at 27,429 acres and 19% containment. Evacuation levels are starting to drop. Mop up operations continue with nighttime handheld infrared cameras to detect residual heat. Firefighters have achieved 100-150 ft of mop-up depth in from the fire boundaries. All Oregon State Fire Marshall structural task forces are demobing while wildland firefighters will remain.

Current suppression costs:
Oregon Department Of Forestry: $21,710,335
Oregon State Fire Marshall: $4,800,963

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07/27/2026

Akawa Butte Fire Update: Red Flag Warning has expired and the winds have died down which has decreased fire activity. As of this morning the fire is 27,222 acres and 6% contained, the size decreased due to more accurate mapping. No overall fire growth outside the fire lines which is great. All crews are continuing to strengthen the fire lines and mop up further inward of the lines.

Crews are increasing the depth of the hose lays to get water further interior to put out hot spots and continue mop up operations. Currently they have laid 39 miles of hose, or about 205,920 feet. Current suppression cost is $18,949,435.00.

Here are a couple cool pictures, we did not take them personally. The one with the dark smoke is from an interior pocket of unburned fuels (Ponderosa Pine and Manzanita) that torched off near Little Akawa Butte

07/24/2026

Akawa Butte Fire Update: As of this morning the fire is 27,287 acres and 5% contained. A red flag warning has been issued for the area from 1 pm Friday to 8 pm Saturday with hot, dry and windy conditions and critically low relative humidity which will likely increase fire activity. Work is going on around the clock to strengthen containment lines, put out and mop up spot fires and cool areas 100-150 ft interior of the control lines.

There are currently 1,168 personnel assigned to this incident and it is currently the #1 fire priority in the nation and because of that status the resources assigned will nearly double today.
Currently assigned:
33 20-person hand crews, 66 engines, 12 water tenders, 14 dozers, 17 helicopters. The cost to contain this fire is sitting at $7,889,249 as of today, think about that cost when people say we need to stop all logging. Just a little unpopular food for thought......

07/23/2026

Akawa Butte Fire update. The fire is currently 26,150 acres and still 3% contained.

Yesterday afternoon a pyrocumulus cloud formed over the fire prior to the thunderstorms. Impressive sight. The pyrocumulus cloud is a very large dense but fluffy cloud created by intense surface heating. The cloud created its own weather system over the fire including lightening and gusty outflow winds.

Firefighters far closer to the fire than us encountered flame lengths between 150-200 feet tall with very gusty outflow winds that required them to pull back to the south and modify their tactics. The winds pushed the fire further south and west closer to highway 20. When the thunderstorms hit, the precipitation slowed the fire growth.

07/21/2026

Small update on the Akawa Butte Fire between Sisters and Crooked River Ranch. Photos taken from the Jefferson County Oregon Sheriff page.

Acres: 13,605
Total Personnel: 587
Hand Crews: 16
Engines: 30
Water Tenders: 10
Dozers: 15
Helicopters, Type 3: 3
Helicopters, Type 2: 1
Helicopters, Type 1: 2

Weather: Temps will increase which could bring more winds and isolated thunderstorms. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for Wednesday for abundant lightning in the fire area which may increase fire activity and possible new fire starts. Lets hope this doesn't develop.

Firefighters are working around the clock to get a line around the fire and to protect structures.

07/17/2026

Getting an earlier start than normal today. Daybreak has arrived and headed out to the Akawa Butte Fire north of Sisters and west of Crooked River Ranch, currently burning in the Lake Billy Chinook Public Lands 3 Zone and listed at 3,200 acres.

07/08/2026

06/19/2026

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