Brushfire doused at Tumalo State Park

A wind-fanned brushfire that burned nearly a third of an acre at Tumalo State Park Tuesday afternoon was human-caused, but the exact cause could not be determined, officials said.

Crews were dispatched around 2:15 p.m. to the fire spreading fast in dense vegetation between OB Riley Road and the Deschutes River, on the west bank of the river, said Deputy Fire Marshal Cindy Kettering.

With the help of an Oregon Department of Forestry crew, the blaze was quickly contained at .29 acre, Kettering said.

Bend firefighters said it was a good reminder that fire season has arrived. Kettering said a dry spring has led to very low fuel moistures, making conditions right for fires to spread rapidly.

Consider fire safety whenever you are performing activities such as using brush cutters, mowers or saws, having a recreational campfire, or smoking, Kettering said.

Fireworks will be available soon, and she advised to use only fireworks legal in Oregon, — and keep them away from anything that can burn, as even legal fireworks can start wildfires.