Baker City police investigate two suspected arson fires along riverfront walkway

Baker City police are investigating two suspected arson fires along the Leo Adler Memorial Walkway near Washington Street after blazes broke out just 15 feet apart in nearly the same stretch of riverfront path. The fires have put one of the city’s busiest public spaces under new scrutiny because the route runs beside the Powder River and serves walkers, runners, bikers and dog walkers every day.

The first fire was reported around 8:15 p.m. Friday, May 8, in dry brush along the waterway. Baker City Fire Department crews said it measured about 10 feet by 10 feet and was quickly extinguished before it could spread farther.

A second fire started around 6 p.m. Sunday, May 10, roughly 15 feet away from the first spot and beneath a tree. That blaze climbed about 20 feet high before crews contained it. Residents in the area used a portable extinguisher to help knock it down before firefighters arrived, a step that likely kept the damage from spreading.

Investigators say both fires were intentionally set, and Baker City police referred two people of interest for further investigation. No one was hurt, and officials said property damage was minimal. The Baker City Fire Department is asking anyone with information to call 541-524-2014.

The fires hit a corridor that many Baker City residents know well. The Leo Adler Memorial Parkway runs primarily along the Powder River from Hughes Lane to south Bridge Street, with another segment from Resort Street to Myrtle Street along River Drive. The city built the pathway in four phases between 2002 and 2015, and it now covers about 2.35 linear miles of asphalt.

City survey data shows the pathway is heavily used, with nearly 70% of respondents saying they use the Leo Adler Memorial Parkway at least once a month. Most said they use it for walking, running, biking or dog walking, which helps explain why even two small fires in the same place quickly became a public-safety concern.

The walkway carries Leo Adler’s name, honoring the Baker City businessman and philanthropist whose trust helped fund community projects and whose advocacy for Baker City is remembered by the Oregon Encyclopedia. The city has also already treated the route as a safety priority, including a rapid flashing beacon installed near Geiser-Pollman Park to improve pedestrian safety along the pathway.

With dry spring vegetation, a river corridor and frequent foot traffic all packed into the same stretch, the two fires have turned a familiar trail into a test of how quickly Baker City can identify the people responsible and keep the route safe for the residents who rely on it.