Arson sparks blaze in canyon

Sheriff's deputies arrested an eight-year-old boy on a charge of first degree arson after he allegedly set a fire in Squaw Creek Canyon on Monday, June 4.

The blaze started at the bottom of Stardust Lane below the Sno Cap subdivision and spread up the canyon walls. According to Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reports, the fire burned 2.5 to 3 acres before it was knocked down.

Units from Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District, Cloverdale, the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Forest Service scrambled to the scene.

The fire burned to within 100 feet of several homes along the canyon rim.

Firefighters stopped the blaze just 30 feet from the residence on the canyon floor.

This fire was the latest of several blazes in the Sisters area in the past two weeks.

Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD and Cloverdale RFPD shut down burning after a debris fire got away on June 1, according to Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire Chief Don Rowe. Black Butte Ranch had closed the burning season even earlier in the year.

"This is probably the worst (month of) May we've had as far as lack of moisture and fire danger," said Rowe.

Rowe said that although there haven't been any more fires than normal for this time of year, "usually debris burns are pretty small. This year they've been burning faster and have gotten larger."

That prompted the early shut down of fire season, Rowe said.

All the fires so far have been escaped debris burns or lightning caused.

"In the past, we have tried to wait until after Rodeo, because they like to have camp fires, but this year the conditions just don't warrant us doing that," said Rowe.

Under the restrictions, no open burns are allowed in the district, including campfires, unless they are in a designated campground. "We have even closed them in the city park," said Rowe.

"If this continues this will be one of the worst fire seasons we've had. Everyone will have to be extremely careful in the woods this year," said the chief.

Open burning will not be allowed again until fall.