BREAKING: Pendleton police arrest juvenile in connection to recent fire
Published 1:11 pm Tuesday, September 2, 2025
PENDLETON — Pendleton Police Lt. Tony Nelson reported the arrest of a juvenile in connection with the fire Friday, Aug. 29, that burned dozens of acres.
Local 911 dispatchers at about 5:40 p.m. that day began receiving 911 calls reporting a brush fire in a field near the Indian Hills area between Southeast Nye Avenue and Sunridge Middle School.
Nelson reported Pendleton Police Department officers responded within minutes to secure the area and assist with traffic and public safety while the Pendleton Fire and Ambulance Department took on combating the blaze. Several neighboring firefighting agencies joined the suppression effort.
While firefighters were working to contain the burn, Pendleton police were investigating the cause of the incident. That investigation, Nelson reported, resulted in police taking a juvenile into custody. Nelson also reported the juvenile charges in connection with the fire.
He also stated the police department will not release more information about the juvenile due to legal restrictions.
Pendleton Fire and Ambulance reported the blaze torched about 62 acres. No one was hurt, no residences were lost, but there was some property damage.
Crew from the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District, East Umatilla Fire & Rescue, Morrow County and even La Grande helped contain the fire.
More to come.