Oregon Public Broadcasting

Authorities believe an incendiary device started the wildfire that closed I-5 in Medford for several hours this past weekend.

Medford Police Lieutenant, Tim Doney, says inspectors found a homemade bomb in grass and brambles where the fire started.

He declined to provide specifics, but says it doesn't look like improvised fireworks.

Tim Doney: "I can't say at this point if the intent was to start a wildfire, or if this was an item that they set out because it's near the fourth of July, and there's a lot of fireworks and explosives being detonated."

The device will be sent to a crime lab for analysis.

It took about 100 firefighters, a water-dropping helicopter and a bulldozer to stop the flames.