Washington Fire in Baker County appears to be human-caused, investigators seek information
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Sunday, August 11th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WASHINGTON FIRE INVESTIGATION UPDATE
The Washington Fire, reported Saturday, Aug 10, 2024 and contained at 1 acre in size, is being investigated as the fire appears to be human-caused. According to the investigator for the Washington Fire, “It was an escaped campfire at about milepost 4 on Washington Gulch Road. Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Wildland Firefighters and I checked this area the night before for a report of flames and found nothing. So, the start of the fire is 00:30am to 02:30pm on August 10. Most likely the fire was attempted to be extinguished and then in the heat of the day with light west winds came back to flames and started the fire. The last known vehicle in the area the fire started is a blue Subaru that was seen leaving the area around midnight at a very high rate of speed toward Baker City.”
If the public has seen the blue Subaru or knows anything about the start of the fire please call Officer Stephen Betts at the US Forest Service at (541) 523-1356.
