La Pine, Ore. – A fire that started around a wood stove chimney caused damage to a shop building at 52945 Plainview Drive near La Pine this morning. Firefighters from the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District responded at 8:44 am Monday with temperatures at 0 degrees.
An engine, one tender, and three command and support vehicles with 8 firefighters arrived along with Deschutes County Sheriffs Deputies, and 2 members of the District’s Support Services, arrived to find heavy smoke issuing from the attic area of a 40 x 50 shop building with an attached apartment.
The owner of the property and shop Russell Cowles had been in the shop earlier in the morning and was using a wood stove to keep the work area warm during the cold temperatures. The occupant of the apartment alerted Cowls of smoke issuing from the attic area who in turn called 911.
Firefighters were able to make a quick stop within 20 minutes and spent two hours overhauling and limited damage to the attic area of one portion of the shop. They were aided by a separation wall which helped confine the fire in one portion of the building and also separating the apartment.
The fire cause was determined to be wood pyrolysis around the wood stove chimney and ceiling interface. During this event Sunriver Fire assisted by responding to an unrelated medical call along with La Pine recalled staff.
