Early-morning fire near NE Bend intersection doused

Firefighters quickly doused a small brushfire between a gas station and video store near a northeast Bend intersection early Saturday morning. Investigators later said it was apparently human-caused, though the specific cause could not be determined.

Firefighters were called to the address at 211 NE REvere Avenue shortly before 4:30 a.m., in a landscaped area between the Chevron station and Blockbuster Video, said fire Capt. Darrel Levine.

The first crew to arrive found juniper brush ablaze, along with bark mulch and a single pine tree in the landscaped area, Levine said. A power pole also was involved, with the power line broken and hanging in the tree, he said,

Battalion Chief Jeff Blake said the crew had the fire knocked down “within 35 to 40 seconds being on scene,” though crews were on scene about an hour finishing mop-up. Blake said damage was confined to the landscaping strip. A Pacific Power crew responded to make repairs.

Fire investigators said the power line apparently failed due to heat exposure from the fire below.

“Bend Fire would like to remind the community to dispose of potentially smoldering materials in non-combustible containers and away from other combustible materials,” Levine said a news release.. “Items related to smoking and fireworks are of particular concern near commercial and residential structures.”