Deschutes County Sheriff Larry Blanton today called the Two Bulls Fire and another smaller blaze that broke out Tuesday potential arson, and the reward for information leading to a conviction in the case increased by $22,000 in less than a day.

By 4:45 p.m., the reward had increased to $26,500, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

“The fires are suspicious in nature and the ongoing investigation indicates suspicion of potential arson,” Sheriff Larry Blanton said in a new release issued earlier today.

The Two Bulls Fire has burned nearly 11 square miles of mostly private timberland west of Bend. The fire also prompted the Sheriff’s Office to call for the evacuation of hundreds of people, Bend-La Pine Schools to cancel classes at three schools for two days and the city of Bend to switch from surface water to well water for more than three days.

Two helicopters fighting the fire quickly snuffed a quarter-acre fire spotted Tuesday south of Skyliners Road and 1-1/2 miles west of Phil’s Trailhead. Tuesday’s fire started on Deschutes National Forest land that at the time was closed to the public due to the Two Bulls Fire.

The Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information to call 541-693-6911.

— Dylan J. Darling