The Flat Fire was the greatest threat to Sisters Country in years. How did we do? And what happens now?
Photo credit: Conlan Archer/Jack Turpen.
In August 2025, the Flat Fire burned over 23,000 acres across Jefferson and Deschutes counties. 5 Sisters Country homes were burned to the ground, along with over a dozen outbuildings; hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate; and numerous properties were left scorched or covered in ash and retardant.
And yet, in many ways, our community was incredibly lucky. Thanks to the heroic efforts of emergency responders from across Sisters Country and far beyond, our town remains standing and no injuries were reported. Citizens rallied together to help one another, look after their neighbors, and support our firefighters and emergency crews.
But even in we have much to be grateful for, there are important lessons to be learned, and a long road to complete community recovery ahead of us. We know that we might not be so lucky next time, and that there is plenty more to do on the road to community resilience.
Join Citizens4Community and The Nugget as we dig into these sobering truths at our fall 2025 Community Forum – a timely follow-on to our spring Forums on “Wildfire in Sisters Country”.
With a panel featuring community members and officials who were on the front lines of the Flat Fire, we’ll reflect on challenges faced, lessons learned, the state of recovery, and the work still ahead.
Through panel discussion and community dialogue, we’ll consider how wildfires shape not only our landscapes but also our connections to each other. The forum will provide space to share experiences, honor the work of recovery, and discuss strategies for living with fire in ways that strengthen both our safety and our sense of community.
This community event is free, open to the public, and accessible both in-person and online. Free on-site childcare is provided, and other accessibility services are available (details below).
The forum will be held in the Sisters Elementary School commons, with light refreshments provided. Following the initial panel discussion, we will open the floor to audience Q&A.
Stick around for our Preparedness Fair! Several local organizations will be on hand offering resources and expertise around critical topics like evacuation routes, communication systems, “go bags,” home hardening, defensible space, first aid training, and more ways for you and your neighborhood to be prepared for “the next one.”
Our panelists will include:
Event Accessibility Services
We aim to eliminate barriers to attendance by offering:
LIVE STREAMING | Watch our Forum online – in real-time, or via the post-event recording. Closed captioning and language translation provided. Registration required.
FREE CHILDCARE | Free drop-in childcare will be available in the Sisters Elementary School library for kids age 4+. Care is being provided by Starshine LLC, a local business offering a variety of youth camps and programming. We have limited availability for kids 0-3 on a first-come basis; please email us to inquire.
INTERPRETATION SERVICES | ASL, Spanish, and other interpretation services are available. Please email us by October 26th to request.
TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE | Need a ride to the event? Email us and we’ll help you find one.
Thank you to our generous event partners and sponsors!
THE DETAILS:
What: Wildfire in Sisters Country, Part 1: Are We Ready? (C4C Community Forum, produced in partnership with The Nugget, Rotary Club of Sisters, and Sisters Kiwanis)
When: Sunday, November 9 | 4-5:30 PM (doors open at 3:30)
Where: Sisters Elementary School commons | 2155 McKinney Butte Rd, Sisters, OR 97759
Also available online; register here.
Who: Open to the public.
How much: All C4C events are free, but donations at the door or online are appreciated.
Please contact Kellen Klein, C4C’s Executive Director, with any questions – director@citizens4community.com.