A lawnmower was the cause of Oregon's Stouts Creek wildfire, officials have determined.
According to NBC News, the fire was started on July 30, and has since burned through roughly 24,000 acres near Umpqua National Forest, east of Canyonville. Full containment could come by Aug. 22 at the earliest, and the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center said this week the fire is 63-percent contained.
"Despite the success we've had, this is still a big fire with a lot of life and potential in it," said Deputy Incident Commander Russ Lane.
The Oregon Department of Forestry said that the person who started the fire, described as "an individual mowing grass" during prohibited hours, may be on the hook for fines.
"Because of the violation, the individual may be liable for fire suppression costs and damages resulting from the fire," the department said. Thus far, the blaze has cost an estimated $22.4 million to fight. It has also threatened nearly 158 homes.
Nearly 1,600 firefighters from 23 states and three Canadian provinces are fighting the blaze, some of whom have encountered heavy smoke that's settled into the air above Crater Lake National Park.
Officials from the Umpqua National Forest have shared a number of photos of the fire and its attendants on Twitter over the last few weeks.
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