La Pine crews douse small brushfire near Hwy. 97

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies are seeking witnesses after firefighters doused a small, human-caused brushfire on the east side of Highway 97 in La Pine Monday afternoon.

A citizen reported the brushfire shortly after 3:30 p.m. near milepost 166, about a half-mile south of Wickiup Junction, said Sgt. Troy Gotchy.

A sheriff’s deputy in the area arrived on scene and found an active fire less than a quarter-acre in size, Gotchy said. La Pine Fire District firefighters quickly arrived and contained it, he said, adding that no structures were threatened.

The highway’s northbound lane was partly blocked for a time, and ODOT provided traffic control.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but Gotchy said it’s believed to be human-caused.

Anyone who might have seen someone in the area of the fire between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. was asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 541-693-6911.