New fire stopped fast off Skyliners Road west of Bend
A small wildfire broke out west of Bend off Skyliners Road late Monday morning and was quickly caught by crews at about an acre, officials said.
The fire, reported to dispatchers at 11:36 a.m., sent up smoke visible from around Bend, prompting concern amidst a recent spate of apparent human-caused fires, at least 14 of which authorities have publicly confirmed are likely arson.
Incident 541 broke out about 2 1/2 miles west of Phil’s Trailhead on the Deschutes National Forest, said Forest Service spokesman Patrick Lair.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Lair said a water tender, engine, hand crew and law enforcement were still on scene at mid-afternoon.
The fire burned between Skyliners Road and Tumalo Creek
Two Bend Fire units went to help with any needed structural protection, having originally been dispatched to a possible fire near Shevlin Park, which turned out to be the one off Skyliners Road, said Battalion Chief Dave Howe.
The fire broke out in an area where fire fuels reduction work has been done, officials on scene told NewsChannel 21 photojournalist Steve Kaufmann.
Meanwhile, smoke clouds to the north in Jefferson County that also have prompted concern appear to be from the annual summer agricultural field burns and not a new wildfire.
