Shevlin Fire likely human-caused, investigators say

Investigators said Friday that the 10-acre Shevlin Fire, which broke out just west of Bend Thursday afternoon, was likely human-caused, although they have not determined if it was intentional or accidental.

A joint investigation is under way involving the Oregon Department of Forestry, Bend Fire Department, Oregon State Police and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, said sheriff’s Sgt. Nathan Garibay, emergency services manager,.

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation was urged to contact the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at 541-388-6655 or the non-emergency dispatch number at 541-693-6911.

A plume of smoke on Bend’s west side brought back memories of the Two Bulls fire just a year ago.

Both fires started in a similar wooded area on a clear, sunny day,but the results were very different. The Shevlin Park fire was under control within a day, at only about 10 acres, compared to nearly 7,000 acres in last year’s blaze.

“It’s a 100 percent lined, 80 percent mopped up,” said Jeremy Hall, Forest Officer with the Oregon Department of Forestry, said Friday afternoon.

Why was the Two Bulls Fire so much more difficult to control?

“I think the fundamental difference between those two fires was access,” Garibay said. “Two Bulls was further out of town. Access — it was difficult to get access. Plus there were two fires (in Two Bulls) that ultimately burned together.”

Garibay also said the Shevlin Fire happened in a more visible area, leading to an earlier 911 call, but there are also similarities between the two fires.

“A lot of the same fuels — the brush is really dry, the trees are dry. The 10-hour fuels are really explosive,” Hall said.

The winds pushed the Shevlin Fire that began along Tumalo Creek in Shevlin Park into the existing burn scar of the Awbrey Hall Fire, which destroyed 22 homes on Bend’s west side 25 years ago this August.

High winds remained a concern Friday.

“We’re currently under a red flag warning for low humidity and high winds,” Garibay said.

For those on the fire lines, the Shevlin Fire proved to have its own challenges.

“This is a lot of steep terrain — steep rocks, rolling rocks, and fuels are dry this year,” Hall said.

Officials said the mop-up efforts will continue over the weekend. The northern part of Shevlin Park will remain closed for the public, though private events at Aspen Hall are allowed to continue, the Bend Park and Rec District said.

Officials ask to stay clear of areas north of Shevlin Park Road and east of Tumalo Creek.