Two teens cited for wildfire at La Pine State Park
Two La Pine teens have been cited on felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor reckless burning charges, accused of burning pine needles and other debris in a fort they built at La Pine State Park that sparked a quarter-acre fire a month ago, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said Tuesday.
Oregon Department of Forestry and u.S. Forest Service firefighters responded on June 3 to a fire in the park that was controlled at about a quarter/acre. Mop-up lasted through the following day and ODF teams regularly checked the area for the past month to make sure it didn’t rekindle, sheriff’s Sgt. William Bailey said.
Last Saturday, a second, smaller fire was reported in the burn area of the earlier blaze. ODF and Forest Service units responded, along with sheriff’s deputies. Bailey said while the first were deemed human-caused, it’s not known if the second fire was a flare-up from the first one or a new fire.
On Sunday, ODF crews conducting follow-up spotted possible suspects in the area and contacted law enforcement, Bailey said. Deputies and Oregon State Police troopers responded, but the subjects had left before they arrived.
During an extensive area search, a deputy found the pair, identified as 16- and 14-year-old La Pine boys.
Based on the investigation and interviews, Bailey said it’s believed the two tees had built a fort in the area and were burning pine needles and other debris inside it.
The two juveniles failed to properly extinguish the fire before leaving the area., the sergeant said.
Both teens were cited in lieu of custody on charges of reckless burning and first-degree criminal mischief, then released to responsible guardians, Bailey said.
