A brush fire erupted on August 20 in the 85500 block of Scharen Road in Eugene, Oregon, quickly spreading over 2 to 5 acres and prompting a rapid response from local emergency crews.

 

Evacuations were ordered for North Hideaway Hills Road residents, and traffic closures affected Hampton Road and Highway 99, as officials worked to keep people safe.

 

By 9 p.m., the Lane County Sheriff's Office lowered evacuation levels for impacted neighborhoods, with conditions stabilizing as firefighters gained control.

 

Air support and ground crews were crucial in containing the flames, while smoke drifted south, temporarily reducing air quality in nearby communities.

 

The fire’s cause is believed accidental, and authorities have issued a fire watch from August 21, given upcoming high temperatures and extreme heat warnings.

 

Residents are urged to stay alert, follow official instructions, and remain prepared as wildfire season continues to present local risks.

Ethan Foltz, a 22-year-old from Eugene, Oregon, has been charged with developing and running the notorious 'RapperBot' botnet, which enabled large-scale distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks for hire.

 

Since 2021, RapperBot has been linked to more than 370,000 cyberattacks in over 80 countries, targeting thousands of victims including U.S. government agencies, tech firms, and global social media platforms.

 

Federal investigators allege that Foltz monetized the botnet by granting customers access to its powerful DDoS tools, with some clients reportedly using it to extort victims.

 

If convicted, Foltz faces up to 10 years in prison.

 

Authorities seized the botnet’s infrastructure during a search of Foltz’s home in August 2025, effectively shutting down its operations.

 

This action was part of Operation PowerOFF, a global effort to dismantle criminal DDoS-for-hire services.

 

Experts estimate a single DDoS attack from RapperBot could cause tens of thousands of dollars in damages, underscoring the botnet's severe local and international impact.