Estacada, OR –Fire investigators from the Oregon Department of Forestry and Estacada Rural Fire District are working to determine the cause and origin of the McIver fire. The fire started at approximately 9:22 p.m. on September 9 and ultimately burned 30 acres in Clackamas County and McIver State Park. Firefighters continue to mop up the fire, which involves extinguishing or removing burning material and removing any hazardous trees or snags.
The timeline for completing an investigation varies depending on the complexity of a fire, the availability of people for interviews, and the time it takes to analyze the collected information. The Department of Forestry investigates all wildland fires that occur on or threaten its protected lands to determine cause, responsible party and other information pertinent to the needs of the Department. If someone is determined to be responsible for a fire, they are liable for firefighting costs. If a fire burns across jurisdictions, the other organizations responsible for fire protection in those jurisdictions, in this case the Estacada Rural Fire District, may also participate in the investigation.
At this time, the departments are anticipating the investigation to be completed around mid-November 2022.