While The Cram Fire, which has now consumed about 77,000 acres, continued burning about 55 miles northeast of Bend, another fire, much smaller, engulfed an RV and a nearby vehicle at the Temporary Safe Stay Area at Juniper Ridge, a sanctioned refuge for the homeless.
At the camp about 4 miles north of Bend, the vehicles caught fire by 2:30 pm, when Bend Fire & Rescue and Deschutes County Sheriff deputies responded to a report near Highway 97 and Wiley Circle.
July 16 was the same day Gov. Tina Kotek declared a State of Emergency for Oregon’s wildfires that will stand for the rest of the year, the Source reported.
And today, another fire broke out at the Green Acres RV Park, also along Highway 97. At 11:30 am, it was reported that two RVs were ablaze, impinging a 120-gallon propane tank, according to Redmond Fire & Rescue. Responding fire crews used two water tenders, containing 6,000 gallons of water, to put out the fires. The RV Park is not served by fire hydrants, according to authorities. A joint investigation at the scene, conducted by DCSO and Redmond Fire & Rescue, determined that the fire was intentionally set; a person on the scene was arrested and charged with Arson I, Criminal Mischief II and Disorderly Conduct II.
The cause of the July 16 Juniper Ridge fire is still being investigated. When DCSO deputies arrived, followed shortly by Bend Fire & Rescue, about 10 camp residents were using shovels to snuff out burning grass. Fire fighters extinguished the RV and the nearby car. Although no human injuries were reported, a dog and cat died, most likely due to carbon monoxide or smoke from the fire, which consumed less than a quarter of an acre, said Daniel Derlacki, the Deputy Fire Marshal at Bend Fire.
Several phone calls made to Juniper Ridge residents, requesting comment, went unanswered by press time.
This is the first fire at the TSSA, where approximately 200 people live, said Matthew Stuart, the City of Bend’s real estate and facilities manager. When the TSSA opened on June 2, officials prioritized working with residents to mitigate open-fire risks and issues stemming from dogs, Stuart told the Source.
During the past winter, the City of Bend and Deschutes County spent resources to reduce fire hazards in Juniper Ridge, cutting away tree limbs and underbrush. As a result, Derlacki says, the spot fires that popped up around the RV remained in the grass and were easily put out by shovels. Fuel reduction work such as tree thinning is in keeping with home hardening, which is recommended for all property owners.
Juniper Ridge sits snug between Highway 97 and railroad tracks that run north and south. The TSSA comprises 170 acres owned by the City of Bend and Deschutes County. Juniper Ridge is also where many unhoused residents have long sheltered, particularly since the U.S. Forest Service swept a homeless camp along China Hat Road for a forest restoration project on May 1.
The Juniper Ridge TSSA came to be through a collaboration between City and County officials, hatched at an April 29 meeting, the Source reported. The intergovernmental officials have partnered with six nonprofit organizations through a grant program to provide housing-focused case management for folks. TSSA guidelines allow for RVs, trailers and vehicles as shelter, but technically do not allow tents or makeshift shelters.
Bend Fire will continue to monitor the burn area to make sure no hot spots reignite, particularly given the hot and windy weather. As of press time, no reignitions have been noticed. The burned-out RV and vehicle will be removed by a local contractor, which will ensure the flames are completely out before transporting it to Knott Landfill.
The TSSA includes five hygiene stations that feature potable water, handwashing stands and portable toilets. There is also a dumpster for garbage. Contractors remove waste from abandoned campsites while security officers visit four times a day. Service providers have also begun active case management with Juniper Ridge residents to get them into supportive housing.
This article appears in Source Weekly July 17, 2025.
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In June, I authored a piece titled “Build A Shelter” addressing the issue of animal welfare at Juniper Ridge, also known as “Dirt World.” Today, it was reported that a fire broke out at the encampment, destroying an RV and tragically killing a dog that had been left inside. The owners were reportedly not home, and temperatures were in the 90s and more in a closed RV.
This incident raises urgent and deeply troubling questions. Why is animal welfare not being addressed at this site? How are animals still being left in such unsafe and inhumane conditions? Juniper Ridge is described as a managed encampment—where are the managers? Who is ensuring safety and accountability?
This level of negligence should not be tolerated. Just this week, a woman was fined and jailed for leaving a dog in a hot car. How is this situation different? This is a clear case of animal cruelty, and it demands a response.
I am asking the city and county:
What actions are being taken in response to this incident?
What oversight exists for these encampments?
What is the plan to protect both people and animals from preventable harm?
The current conditions at Juniper Ridge are unsafe and unacceptable. Encampments like this pose a serious risk to the broader community. I urge our leaders to take immediate action.
Thank you
Bend. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Get these people off public lands!!!!!!!!!!!! What’s it going to take? The entire North end of town burning to the ground? Spare me the compassion response. This town is just stuck on stupid everywhere you look.