Teenagers cited for La Pine State Park fire

Published 6:30 am Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Two teenagers were cited for starting a fire in La Pine State Park in June, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.

On June 3, the Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service responded to a fire inside the state park, which reached about one-fourth of an acre before being contained, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

On June 28, a smaller fire cropped up within the footprint of the first fire. While both fires were determined to be caused by humans, it was unclear if the second fire was separate, or a flare-up from the first fire, according to the release.

On June 29, officers from the sheriff’s office and the Bend Police Department responded to a call from ODF and located two boys, age 14 and 16, who were identified as suspects in the case.

Officers believe that the boys built a fort in the area, where they burned pine needles and other debris, and left without properly extinguishing the fire.

The two teenagers were cited for reckless burning and criminal mischief, according to the release.

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