Pilot Butte park closed for wildfire mop-up

(Update: Pilot Butte closed to visitors, hikers)

Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint, a northeast Bend landmark and popular visitor spot, remained closed Thursday as firefighters mopped up and watched for hot spots after a 10-acre fire apparently sparked by fireworks that burned about 10 acres, closed U.S. Highway 20 and burned power lines, leaving 27,000 people without power for a time.

The fire prompted evacuation of nearby apartments just hours before Bend’s big Fourth of July fireworks show from atop the butte.

It broke out around 4:50 p.m. and shortly thereafter Bend police tweeted a photo of the scene and urged people to please avoid the area. They said city, state and federal fire crews were working to put out the blaze and it was contained before 7 p.m.

Bend Fire Battalion Chief Dave Howe said the large brush fire began near the base of the butte and was pushed by strong winds around the base of the butte to where Northeast 15th Street intersects with Highway 20, totaling about 10 acres before it was contained.

Meanwhile, Pacific Power’s outage map showed 26,907 customers in Bend initially without power, on the south and west sides of town.The number was reduced to about 22,000 by 6 p.m. and 18,000 a half-hour later. Power was fully restored by rerouting service before 7 p.m.

Bend police Sgt. Tom Pine said the fire was spotted just before 5 p.m. and “was well developed before I’d heard that a transformer exploded and the fire was moving into the power lines” near the butte.

Howe said the fire reached high-tension power lines, as winds from the northwest at 10-15 mph sent flames racing through the dry brush and grass.

Bend Fire was assisted by three five-person hand crews from the U.S. Forest Service, along with an officer and two engines. The Oregon Department of Forestry assisted with two engines and an officer, while police helped with traffic control.

Crews also tackled and stopped a spot fire that jumped the highway and began near the entrance to Lava Lanes.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, according to Howe, but Bend police Lt. Clint Burleigh said the fire is believed to have been sparked by fireworks, as there was a police call regarding small fireworks around the time the blaze broke out.

Bend Fire was assisted by three five-person hand crews from the U.S. Forest Service, along with an officer and two engines. The Oregon Department of Forestry assisted with two engines and an officer, while police helped with traffic control.

ODOT spokesman Peter Murphy said around 6:50 p.m. that the highway was open again in both directions. Bend police said 15th Street also had reopened, though the pedestrian tunnel under Highway 20 to the butte remained closed.

The fire did not prevent the big fireworks show from launching as planned atop the butte later Wednesday night, nor the fires resulting from the many thunderous explosions of illegal fireworks around the city before, during and after the show.