A smoldering brush pile from fuels reduction work by the Bend Park and Rec District ignited in Shevlin Park west of Bend on the warmest day of the year Saturday, causing a fast-spreading fire crews held to two acres.

Bend Fire and Rescue, Oregon Department of Forestry and U.S. Forest Service units responded around 1:20 p.m. to the fire that was spreading up a steep slope on the west side of the Tumalo Creek canyon, near Fremont Meadow, said Bend fire Battalion Chief Bob Madden.

?An aggressive attack by firefighters held the fire to two acres,? Madden said in a news release.

The park district had been doing some fuels reduction work in the area in the past week, including burning piled-up brush, Madden said.

The fire was caused by a burned brush pile that had smoldered and spread to dry pine needles, he said.

It took three hours for more than a dozen firefighters to control the blaze, Madden said, but putting it completely out will take another full day, with ODF assisting the park district in completing mop-up.

Smoke will be visible overnight and Sunday morning as it drifts down the canyon, toward Shevlin Park Road, the fire official said.

Madden said the fire ?serves as a reminder to ensure proper clearance exists around burn piles prior to ignition.?

And with things finally warming up, he added, ?Even a short bout of warm, dry weather can dry out dead fuels enough to allow fires to spread quickly.?