Pine Mountain Fire, string of six near Sisters believed to be arson
Fire investigators confirmed Monday the Pine Mountain Fire burning southeast of Bend and a string of small fires last week south of Sisters are among the 14 recent wildfires believed to have been arson.
Authorities announced Sunday that at least 14 wildfires in Central Oregon over the past three weeks are believed to have been intentionally set.
There was good news from the fire lines on Monday, however, as the Pine Mountain Fire was fully contained, as was the Sheridan Fire west of Sunriver.
Fire officials said in a normal fire year, about two-thirds of wildfires are lighting-caused, but the numbers have reversed this year, with twice as many human-caused as natural fires.
“We want to make sure everyone feels safe on their public lands and the best thing to do is if you see something, say something,” Deschutes National Forest spokeswoman Kassidy Kern said.
Oregon State Police Capt. Bill Fugate told NewsChannel 21 his agency has sent out arson detectives to help with the investigation.
OSP and other agencies issued a public plea Sunday for tips that could lead to suspects.
Few other details were released about the apparent arson fires. But with fire danger at its peak, and plenty of other human-caused fires, officials also urged the public to report any suspicious activity.
“At this point, we do believe that it is arson, just due to the nature of the fires and the overall behavior of how they’re started,” Fugate said.
Authorities said it’s too early to tell if one or several people are involved.
“The biggest concern is public safety,” Fugate said. “We just want to make the public aware that there could be somebody or people out there that are setting these fires, and the last thing we want is for a firefighter to get injured or killed.”
While solving arson cases can be challenging, investigators said they are confident that if most of these fires were criminally started, the evidence will tell them.
“Fire investigation is science,” Fugate said. “There’s always evidence left behind, there’s evidence of what started it. So these are complex investigations, but fortunately it is a science, and they can be solved.”
Kern said this fire season has been difference, as a majority of fires have been human-caused, not from lightning.
“This year, we are at or above normal for human- caused starts,: Kern said. “Arson contributes to that, but again we are having some carelessness with our campfires.” Kern urged people to be extremely cautious when handling fire while camping. always carry water, make sure cigarette butts are out, and avoid parking over vegetation.
“Our ecosystem around here has evolved with fire, so fire is not necessarily an evil thing for Central Oregon,” Kern said. “In many ways, it rejuvenates our forests. However, in the cases we’re having now, with arson, with careless human-caused fires, we’re putting firefighters in danger because we are not really able to make sure we can always ensure safety.”
Here’s the multiagency news release::
“In the past month, Central Oregon has had numerous human-caused fires. Now, Oregon State Police along with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Forestry and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office believe that several of those fires were intentionally started. Specific details will not be released while investigations are ongoing.
“While an investigation by all cooperating agencies is in progress, we would like to urge the public to report suspicious activity on public lands by calling the Oregon State Police at 503-375-3555 or if it is an emergency, call 9-1-1.
“Central Oregon is currently in the peak of its fire season and the fire danger level is EXTREME with very dry fuels and continued hot and dry weather in the forecast. The public is reminded that every wildfire puts our firefighters, visitors, residents and properties in danger.
“In addition to the arson fires, our firefighters have responded to numerous abandoned or escaped campfires. Campfires should never be left unattended and should be cold to the touch whenever they are left. Additionally, please properly dispose of cigarette butts, park only in areas clear of vegetation, and in general use caution while working and recreating.”
In addition, in Lake County, fire officials now believe an arsonist ignited the 3,424-acre Withers Fire that began last Wednesday a mile north of Paisley, putting the town under Level 1 pre-evacuation alert for several days. The 231 firefighting personnel deployed to that area now have that fire 65 percent contained.
With a criminal investigation underway, anyone with information on that fire is asked to call 541-947-2504.
Some of Central Oregon’s most notorious and destructive wildfires were the work of arsonists, including the August 1990 Awbrey Hall Fire, which threatened to consume Bend’s Westside before winds shifted. It burned over 3,500 acres and destroyed a dozen homes.
Six years later, authorities arrested Aaron Groshong of Bend, a firefighter and owner of Wildcat Fire Service, on charges of starting that fire and seven others. He served 18 months in prison under a plea deal, pleading guilty to one arson charge in connection with the other fires.
The nearly 7,000-acre Two Bulls Fire that began as a pair of blazes just west of Bend in early June 2014, prompting days of evacuations of about 250 homes and alerts for others, also was deemed suspicious, as well as a smaller fire along Skyliners Road four days later, though no arrests have been announced in that case.
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Firefighters reported significant progress Saturday on all three wildfires burning in Central Oregon, but remain on high alert as warm temperatures, gusty winds and low humidity pose continued danger of new blazes.
Crews on Incident #516 on Tumalo Mountain, across Cascades Lakes Highway from Mt. Bachelor, ended the day with a report of “no smoke, no heat,” and the small fire is fully contained.
The day shift on the Pine Mountain Fire burning about 30 miles southeast of Bend continued the work started by the night shift and held the fire at 252 acres. The fire is now 60 percent contained, officials said Saturday evening.
The Pine Mountain Observatory and nearby campground are open after being evacuated when the fire broke out Friday night. This weekend’s tours were canceled, but they are expected to resume as normal next week.
Finally, fire crews on the Sheridan Fire burning west of Sunriver also made gains, as that 200-acre fire also is now 60 contained.
The Level 1 pre-evacuation alert for Fall River Estates and the Fall River Fish Hatchery was lifted Saturday afternoon by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
Much of Central Oregon was under a red flag warning for 1-11 p.m. on Sunday for low relative humidity and increasing wind. That means wildfires that start are very likely to spread rapidly.
Low relative humidity and wind, combined with continued warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Officials ask that you please continue to use caution when recreating out in the woods and rangelands – make sure campfires are out when someone isn’t there to watch them, dispose of cigarettes properly, and avoid parking over vegetation.
The Deschutes National Forest also reminded that an area closure remains in effect for the Sheridan Fire near Sunriver.
Keep up to date on these and other local fires at https://twitter.com/CentralORFire
