Careless campers cause conflagration

Campers started a 30-acre fire within a mile of the Pole Creek Trailhead on Wednesday, June 18. About 130 firefighters battled the blaze for two days, and had the fire under control by midday Thursday.

Lookouts stationed at the Black Butte tower reported the fire at 12:34 p.m. on Wednesday. According to Mike Carnahan of the Sisters Ranger District, preliminary investigations indicate that the fire escaped beyond a campf ire ring, where it was fanned by the breeze.

The campfire ring was within about a mile from the wilderness area boundary, and was not in a designated camping area. The campers apparently drove up an old logging road and camped alongside it.

The Sisters and Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District fire crews were assisted by the Redmond and Prineville Hotshot crew on Wednesday, and by the Warm Springs and Winema Hotshots on Thursday. The firefighters were able to use the old logging road to access the blaze. Hand crews, engines and air tankers fought the blaze, said Carnahan.

"The winds were not as bad as predicted, (but) the slight breeze caused the fire to spot out, throwing fire brands from the main fire to spark little ones," said Carnahan. "That is how the fire spread."