‘Be part of a solution’: BLM, volunteers remove hundreds of pounds of trash from public land after fires

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — The Bureau of Land Management, which is admittedly overwhelmed by the amount of illegal camping and dumping occurring on Oregon public land , worked with volunteers to remove hundreds of pounds of garbage from BLM property near La Pine during this summer.

The cleanup was inspired by the Darlene 3 wildfire, a human-caused fire sparked on June 24, the BLM said. The fire ignited near a homeless camp located on public land, the Central Oregon Daily News first reported. Video obtained by Central Oregon Daily News shows the fire raging near the camp moments after the fire started.

“The Darlene 3 and Jackpine wildfires near La Pine shined a spotlight on the negative effects of long-term overstays and illegal dumping on public lands. In response, local community members approached the Bureau of Land Management with a request: could they organize a group clean-up?” the U.S. agency said in a press release on Monday.

The newly formed organization Newberry Regional Partnership put together a group of 60 volunteers to take part in the cleanup, which took place in August on BLM land southwest of La Pine.

“The group said they saw how frustrated people were with trash on the lands in their community, and they wanted to offer a way for residents to be part of a solution,” the BLM said. “For the BLM, the project was an easy sell with a big caveat.”

The BLM was eager for people to clean the troubled property, known as Jackpin Camp. However, BLM officials had concerns about an area of the property that might contain asbestos and human waste.

“The area around Jackpine Camp was well-known as a dumping area, RV chop shop, and place of long-term overstays,” the BLM said. “The field office was already in the process of putting a contract out to bid on the same area, and they had identified a portion of the area as potentially containing human waste and asbestos.”

Ultimately, the organization agreed to stay clear of the hazmat area and provide hand-washing stations, and the BLM agreed to host the cleanup. The Newberry Regional Partnership, the BLM, the Public Land Stewards, the City of La Pine, Deschutes County, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District all worked together on the cleanup. The local trash and recycling company Republic Services also offered workers and dumpsters for the event and the La Pine Ace Hardware provided supplies.

“In just a few hours, nearly 60 volunteers filled two 30-yard dumpsters, three 20-yard dumpsters, and numerous privately owned trailers with debris,” the BLM said. “Republic Services provided individual dumpsters for trash, metal, and tires, making disposal easier. The team worked tirelessly to remove hundreds of pounds of garbage, ranging from household trash to clothes to washing machines.”

With hundreds of pounds of trash cleared from the property, the BLM said that it can now focus its efforts on cleaning up the hazardous materials in the area.

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