Abandoned campfire sparks 1/4-acre fire west of Bend

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies grabbed shovels and dug a line around a quarter-acre brush fire Monday morning off Skyliners Road west of Bend until fire crews arrived. Forest Service officials said the cause was an abandoned campfire.

Deputies who spotted the blaze around 6:30 a.m. dug lines around the fire to keep it from spreading until firefighting resources arrived. Two engines were on scene finishing mop-up later in the morning, Central Oregon Fire Information Officer Lisa Clark said.

Clark reminded residents and visitors that public use restrictions go into effect Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. on Forest Service and BLM lands across Central Oregon.

Campfires won’t be allowed except in a number of designated, developed campgrounds (see related story for the list).