Thousands of residents in central Oregon and Northern California’s wine country remained under evacuation notices on Aug. 25 as firefighters battled two major wildfires amid ongoing hot and dry weather across the western United States.
The Flat Fire, which is now the largest active wildfire in Oregon this year, has scorched an estimated 21,971 acres and was only 5% contained on Aug. 25, according to the Central Oregon Fire Information. The blaze started on Aug. 21 and rapidly grew due to high temperatures and windy conditions.
The fire was burning about two miles northeast of Sisters, a small central Oregon town about 109 miles southeast of Salem, as it threatened homes and other buildings in Deschutes and Jefferson counties, the Central Oregon Fire Information said. Multiple structures, including some homes, have already been destroyed or damaged by the fire, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office…