Fire that prompted evacuations SE of La Pine believed caused by bowhunting smoker’s carelessness

(Update: Cause believed to be bowFire declared 100% contained)

CRESCENT, Ore. (KTVZ) – A wildfire that prompted evacuation of about 20 homes in the Sun Forest Estates subdivision southeast of La Pine on Saturday afternoon apparently was sparked by a bowhunter's careless smoking, an area fire official said Tuesday.

Crews from several agencies tackled and encircled the 45-acre Forest Meadows Fire east of Crescent and southeast of La Pine, prompting evacuations of some homes in the subdivision off state Highway 31 in northern Klamath County. It was fully contained by Labor Day.

Walker Range Fire Patrol District Manager R.D. Buell told NewsChannel 21 Tuesday that evidence (in the form of a large pile of ashes) indicated a bow hunter ignited the fire, as the ashes were found "right where he gutted the animal out." He said they don't expect to be able to find whoever ignited it.

The fire was reported around 2:20 p.m. Saturday on BLM land between the Split Rail and Sun Forest Meadows Estates subdivisions, eight miles east of Crescent and about 12 miles southeast of La Pine, Central Oregon Fire Management Service spokeswoman Kassidy Kern said.

U.S. Forest Service, BLM, Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Crescent and La Pine rural fire departments responded to the fire, as well as Oregon Outback.

They had a preliminary bulldozer line around the fire before 6 p.m., allowing crews to work on holding and securing the line, Kern said. By 8 p.m., the fire was fully lined at 45 acres. Kern said crews were beginning mop-up and would be on the fire through the night.

The fire was fully contained by Monday morning. Buell said the fire was about 85 percent mopped up by Tuesday.

"They came together up there, all the agencies -- everybody came together and worked real well," with no injuries reported and no homes damaged.

Sun Forest Estates residents west of Greenwood Road to Ringo Court were placed under Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation notice) Saturday afternoon, with a shelter and contact point set up at La Pine Middle School, according to Klamath County Emergency Manager Brandon Fowler. Kern said about 20 homes in the subdivision were evacuated.

Fowler said the Level 3 evacuation level was reduced to Level 2 (Get Set) Saturday evening, meaning those residents still need to be prepared to leave quickly, should it become necessary.

Thick smoke from wildfires elsewhere in the state that brought unhealthy air quality to much of Central Oregon on Saturday also challenged the firefighting effort.

“It’s too smoky for fixed-wing retardant planes,” Kern said, and water-dropping helicopters also couldn’t fly for a time. “We’re going to be challenged to have air support due to the smoky conditions,” she said.

ODOT advised that the fire affected Highway 31, between mileposts 6 and 8, and advised motorists to expect delays or use alternate routes if available.