An investigation is underway after three recreation vehicles were destroyed by fire at three different campsites on Bureau of Land Management Land near La Pine Sunday.
“The fires are suspicious and Federal Central Oregon Fire Service fire crews were called to monitor and investigate,” according to a news release from the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District. Deschutes County Sheriff Deputies were also on scene to assist locate the fires and initiate the investigation. The area is one where there are numerous dispersed campsites and abandoned vehicles.
The third RV fire was reported at 3:17 pm Sunday after a Central Oregon Forest Service patrol engine spotted a column of smoke on BLM lands west of Hwy 97 in the Jack Pine Loop area that is just south of La Pine.
“Access was challenging, they found in the woods a fully involved RV, thought to be unoccupied, fully involved with the fire and quickly spreading to the surrounding area due to the north winds and very warm temperatures,” according to the news release.
Firefighters responded with two engines to assist, as well as tenders responded from Crescent Fire and Bend Fire. Oregon Department of Forestry responded with an engine as well as Walker Range. Several Forest Service engines and a crew responded from Bend. Deschutes County Sheriff Deputies worked on evacuation of several dispersed campsites in the area. The fire was contained to just under one acre and forest service crews spent Sunday evening mopping up.
Two other RV’s that were destroyed by fire occurred Sunday at 5:37 a.m. Firefighters responded to two separate dispersed campsites east of Drafter Road and North of Rosland Road on Federal/BLM lands. Ten firefighters with two engines and two tenders responded and found the two burning unoccupied RVs which were about quarter-mile apart. Both RV’s were fully involved with fire that was spreading toward La Pine.
