Deck fire nearly reaches home in NE Bend
A Bend fire crew was heading back to their station on Hamby Road around 1:30 p.m. Saturday when they saw smoke coming over a homeowner’s fence along Norttheast Neff Road.
At the same time, firefighters received a call for a structure fire in the vicinity, and they quickly came around the corner to see the fire.
The deck attached to the home off Carson Road was ablaze.
Officials say the fire was a couple minutes from extending into the home, so luckily firefighters were close and not committed to any other calls, so they were able tot keep it from spreading any further.
“They usually are a result of somebody that is just forgetting that the deck surfaces and the things on the deck are combustible,” said fire Capt. Andy Hood. “So again, I don’t know what caused the fire, but ashes, cigarettes those type of things go in appropriate disposable containers and basically drowned out before they are disposed of.”
Firefighters were able to put the fire out in about 30 seconds.
The homeowner was not home, so the cause was under investigation.
Coincidentally, the fire broke out a day when the Bend Fire Department held an open house.
This week was National Fire Prevention Week, and to wrap it up, the public was invited to meet the firefighters and tour the station off Jamison Street.
There was a live demonstrations of a vehicle extrication, the station’s ladder truck and a live burn demonstration, showing the benefits of fire sprinklers.
The week is to encourage people to practice fire safety 365 days a year, and also show the services the fire department provides.
“It’s important to encourage residents to be a part of the fire department,” said Bend Deputy Fire Marshal Susie Maniscalco. “We want to be a part of the community, to show all the services we provide, and also teach families and children about fire safety in the home.”
This year’s theme was to encourage everyone to have two ways out: out of your house and business.
Maniscalco gave the example of the Nosler explosion a few years ago. Employees there practiced their business escape plan — and it prevented injuries, or worse.
