Utah Man Arrested After Starting Fire Near Lime
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, August 15th, 2025 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LIME — (Release from the Baker County Sherriff’s Office) On August 14, 2025, at approximately 1:04 p.m., Baker County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received numerous reports of a fire east of I-84 exit 342 near Lime. Multiple fire resources, including air and ground, responded to the scene.
Deputy Rosin and Undersheriff Durheim responded to the scene to investigate. While in the area, deputies were notified of a cargo trailer that appeared hastily parked in a pullout off Highway 30. No vehicles were located nearby, and attempts to determine the registered owner were unsuccessful. During this time, BLM Vale District Fire Management Specialist, Al Crouch, located an abandoned campsite approximately a half-mile from the cargo trailer. Items found at the campsite appeared to be connected with the trailer.
Deputy Rosin returned to the cargo trailer. While there, Kayle D. Povey (43 yoa) of Utah arrived and was discovered to be the owner of the trailer. After speaking with Povey, deputies determined that he was working as a contractor in the area and set up a campsite. According to Povey, he started a fire to clean up some of the debris that had been left prior to his arrival. The fire quickly grew and got out of control. Povey attempted to use a fire extinguisher and water to put out the fire, to no avail. As the fire spread up the hillside, Povey hooked up his cargo trailer and left the area.
Povey was arrested without incident and transported to the Baker County Jail. He was charged with Reckless Burning, a class A misdemeanor.
One BLM firefighter received minor injuries from falling rock while battling the blaze, ultimately named the Lime Fire. The firefighter was medically cleared and returned to the fire line. The fire is estimated to have burned 144 acres.
Resources included BLM, Burnt River RFPA, Huntington Fire, North Powder Rural Fire, and Baker County Emergency Management.
Baker County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by BLM Vale District Fire Management Specialist, Al Crouch.
