La Pine woman cited in brushfire

An Oregon State Police trooper followed shoe prints to a La Pine woman’s home Saturday and she was cited for leaving a campfire unattended Friday night, causing a small brushfire on BLM property, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Natalie Jean Schlosser, 34, was cited on a reckless burning charge and released in connection with the fire, reported around 11 a.m. on BLM land several hundred yards south of Pierce Road near Riverland Avenue, said Sgt. Troy Gotchy.

Arriving La Pine Rural Fire District crews and deputies found a large slash pile burning, along with surrounding brush and trees, Gotchy said. The La Pine and U.S. Forest Service crews quickly got a line around the fire and held it to about 100 by 80 feet.

The OSP trooper that responded to the area found some shoe prints leaving the area and tracked them to the nearby home, where Schlosser was contacted.

The fire was contained to BLM land, Gotchy said. No structures were threatened and no injuries reported.