Brush Fire On NE Studio Rd 4-16-26 (Photo) - 04/16/26

Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a reported brush fire along NE Studio Rd this morning just after 10am. Crews arrived to find a 40-foot strip of ornamental juniper brushes on fire in front of a house. The occupant was attempting to stop the fire with a garden hose, but the wind kept the fire going. The first arriving fire engine was able to extinguish the fire quickly and prevent it from spreading to the house and other juniper bushes. There was no reported property damage outside of the brush. Studio Rd was closed for a short time as crews extinguished the fire. 

The fire was caused by the occupant using a weed burner to clear material from his driveway. While weed burners are allowed in the rural areas while burning is open, they are not allowed in the city limits as they are considered debris burning. City ordinance bans all debris burning within the city limits of Bend. The occupant was provided a warning as this was a first offense. 

This is a good reminder of why debris burning will be closed down a month early this year compared to last year. Even with the rain and snow over the past week vegetation is still very dry and can easily ignite and spread. If you are finishing up burning this spring, we ask that you be extremely careful while doing it. Ensure all preparations are done before burning such as having water on hand, clearing combustibles away from the burn and having tools ready to go. Call the burn information line before burning outside the city limits to ensure it is open that day as well because if we see that winds are too strong, we can shut it down on a daily basis. All debris burning will be closed throughout Central Oregon at the end of the day on 4/30/26.