Brushfire burns at SE Bend ‘teen hangout’

A small human-caused brushfire broke out in southeast Bend Tuesday afternoon in a grove of juniper trees that neighbors say is frequented as a campsite and a teenage “hangout,” fire investigators said.

Firefighters were dispatched around 3 p.m. to a brushfire off Kayla Court, just east of Janalee Place, south of Bear Creek Road and west of 27th Street, said Deputy Fire Marshal Cindy Kettering.

When crews arrived, the fire had spread from a vacant lot on the north side of Kayla Court to one on the other side of the road, Kettering said.

The fire, which burned about 1/10 of an acre, was quickly extinguished, with the help of Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service, she said.

An investigation determined the fire was human-caused and started in the grove of trees frequented by teens, Kettering said.

Losses were estimated at $1,500, due to fire damage to a Pacific Power utility box and a buried Cascade Natural Gas line.

Kettering noted that Bend Fire and ODF recently boosted the fire danger level to “Extreme,” meaning a fire will quickly spread out of control in hot, dry conditions.

“Everyone is urged to use extreme caution and be aware of how fast a fire can ignite,” Kettering said in a news release. “One discarded cigarette, one unattended campfire, or other careless acts can result in a major fire.”