Small brush fire stopped by Deschutes River in Bend; specific human cause unknown, but campers were told to move

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Firefighters quickly put out a small brush fire along the Deschutes River Trail downstream from Bend's First Street Rapids Wednesday afternoon. Officials said it was considered human-caused, but no specific cause was found. A park user told NewsChannel 21 it happened in an area where some homeless campers had previously been given 24 hours notice to leave.

Bend Fire & Rescue was dispatched around 4 p.m. to the reported fire after witnesses spotted smoke and flames near the bottom of a cliff behind the homes on Northwest Rivermist Drive, Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said.

Bend Police officers were first on scene and helped determine the best way to access the fire, which crews stopped at 30 by 50 feet “on the flat areas near the river, luckily not spreading up the hill at all,” Derlacki said.

US Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters soon arrived to assist, he said, and crews stayed on scene for an hour, ensuring the fire was completely extinguished.

An old, fallen tree was cut up, to ensure it wasn’t smoldering before crews left, Derlacki said.

“There were no signs of camping or encampments in the area,” Derlacki said, noting, “The trail through the fire area is heavily used by hikers and swimmers. A carelessly disposed-of cigarette or other hot ashes can’t be ruled out as a cause.”

A park user who asked not to be identified told NewsChannel 21 a small group of homeless had been camping in the area for several weeks, smoking and drinking in the park, and were given 24 hours notice to leave by a park steward on Tuesday - one of whom might have started Wednesday's fire.

The park user said a security firm told them they could not do anything about the people who hang out during the day, smoking and drinking under the bridge - and the person later said they were back in the area Wednesday evening.

Asked about the report, Derlacki said he spoke with a park steward on the scene who said at least one person was trespassed from the area in the last 24 hours, but did not indicate they knew who or what started it.

Derlacki said Thursday he confirmed the park district "had issued trespass warnings to several individuals yesterday in that area of the park." However, he said they found nothing connecting the fire to anyone they talked to at the scene, and "the fire is still considered human-caused, undetermined."

Bend Park and Rec District Community Engagement Director Julie Brown said she had no information to add about the camping notice or exclusion that was issued by a park steward. "I can't confirm if they are related to the fire," she said.

Derlacki added, "This fire highlighted a reminder to ensure you have good defensible space around your home, even if you live in the center of town.

"Piles of dry yard debris, thick brush and wood piles near decks were noted around homes near this fire. If an ember had come up the hill from this fire, it could have easily ignited the dry vegetation and spread the fire to homes. More information about how to create that defensible space can be found at www.bendoregon.gov/own-your-zone."