“It affects you the same way as it does them.” Sister’s residents react to latest information on Akawa Fire

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- As the Akawa Butte Fire continues burning areas near Sisters, Residents gathered at Sisters High School to hear from fire officials on the latest of the fire.

A town meeting was held in Sisters, Ore., earlier tonight to update residents on ongoing wildfires. Officials have declared the wildfire the number one priority in the country. The fire has grown significantly over the last 24 hours, with flames reaching 150 feet high and traveling at 25 miles per hour. Despite the rapid spread, authorities confirmed no houses on Wilt Road have burned.

This news brought immediate relief to residents, including those with homes directly adjacent to the fire's front line.

Officials from several different departments addressed Sisters residents for almost an hour during the meeting, providing updates on the fire. Crews from all over the country are converging on Central Oregon in an “all hands on deck” situation to combat the blaze. Residents who attended the town meeting were in various stages of evacuation, with some at Level one and others at Level three.

Al Barton, a resident of Bend, shared his experience as the father of an evacuee whose house is located on Wilt Road, right next to the fire's front line. Barton described the profound emotional impact, stating, “You know, you think it really affects the people that it's going to affect. But when you're a parent of a child, it doesn't matter. It affects you the same way as it does them.” He added that he spent “a couple of days with her packing out, getting the dogs out.”

Barton reflected on the emotional toll, saying, “When you find yourself by yourself and you're crying, it's like, man, This is. This is deep. This is not a it's not a game. It's not a toy. It's life. And, when it affects your child NO MATTER HOW OLD they are nothing you can do about it. You you have to try and hang it together. Help them, you know and stay SOLID.” Both Barton and his daughter had barely slept in days, with his daughter declining an on-camera interview but speaking off-camera.

During his conversation with the reporter, Barton received positive news from a sheriff's department representative regarding Wilt Road. Barton recounted that “the sheriff's department guy, he really took it TO HEART got Ahold of people and said that nothing on Wilt Road had burned yet.” Barton noted his daughter's frustration, adding, “the map not being updated is the thing that's been killing all day. It's like, just tell me where it is so I can know, you know and have peace.”

This update brought a significant sense of relief to Al, his daughter and other residents with properties on Wilt Road. For those in a Level 3 “go now” evacuation, the days of waiting for updates while praying their homes are still intact can be excruciating. Following the news, Al and his daughter both “laughed and smiled and felt a sigh of relief.”

Barton and his daughter experienced a significant sigh of relief after receiving confirmation that their home on Wilt Road had not been destroyed by the wildfire.

To watch the full meeting click here.