A vegetation fire broke out near Skinner Butte Park in Eugene, Oregon, shortly after 12:30pm on 17 August, prompting police to urge people within a half-mile of the area to evacuate. Emergency crews responded to the fire, with a high volume of emergency vehicles seen at the scene.

Ray Cesaletti, who lives in the area, told The Register-Guard he was walking along the West Second Avenue trail up Skinner Butte when he heard a loud “pop”. The sound resembled a firework or gunshot, he said, before he noticed the smell of smoke.

Eugene Springfield Fire Chief Mike Caven told The Register-Guard that firefighters stopped the fire’s spread at between 1 and 1.5 acres.

Another witness reported seeing a cigarette butt on the trail, Caven said.

A Eugene parks employee at the scene said Skinner Butte has more fires than any other park in Eugene.

The employee, who declined to give their name, said Eugene Parks and Open Spaces had carried out a fuels reduction operation at the same location about two years ago.

The work involved removing low-hanging branches and managing vegetation in the area where Monday’s fire started.