A fire this past weekend in Tumalo was extinguished thanks to neighbors. According to a news release from Bend Fire & Rescue, the fire was reported Saturday at 4:18 p.m., at 20989 Tumalo road. Crews were dispatched to a report of a structure fire in close proximity to an outbuilding and house. Neighbors called the fire in that was first witnessed near a shed type building approximately 30 feet from a residential home. Neighbors of property initiated extinguishment with available fire extinguishers and knocked down the fire significantly. Bend Fire & Rescue units, 312, 322, 386 and 385 quickly arrived on scene and continued with suppression of the fire and investigation.
Occupants of the property had just left less than an hour prior to the fire and were returning when contacted by Bend Fire. The cause of the fire was determined to be due to high winds in the area, approximately 30 mph, that blew a metal carport style frame and cover approximately 50 feet away from its original location. The shed was lifted approximately 20 feet in the air up into two overhead power lines. The shed and vinyl tarp material contacted the power lines which caused an arc and ignition to the vinyl tarping material. The shed landed in some dry grass near an outbuilding and the fire quickly spread to nearby lawn equipment and construction materials inside a wooden shed. Two overhead power lines were also damaged by the direct contact by the shed and arc of the electricity. Pacific Power was contacted and quickly responded with on call personnel for repairs of the power lines. Estimated damage to property is estimated at $5,000.
With hot and dry conditions that we are currently experiencing it is always a good idea to keep combustible vegetation to a minimum. Dry vegetation can quickly spread fire to nearby structures or other materials. It is recommended that dry vegetation be removed within 30 feet minimum of a structure to reduce the risk of fire spreading to other combustible materials.
