NE Bend four-plex fire blamed on smokers’ carelessness

A fire that caused $100,000 damage to a northeast Bend four-plex Wednesday evening and spread to nearby brush and trees, threatening to start a wildfire, was caused by improper disposal of cigarettes on the home’s back deck, investigators said.

Bend firefighters were called around 5:42 p.m. to the structure fire at 2025 Northeast Rachael Court, south of Neff Road and just east of Purcell Boulevard, said Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki. Callers reported smoke and flames on the back of the single-story building.

Crews arrived and quickly confirmed everyone had made it safely out of all of the units, Derlacki said.

The fire spread from the building’s exterior into the attic and to adjacent brush and juniper trees. The Oregon Department of Forestry helped make sure the brushfire did not spread to nearby homes and apartments, while Bend fire crews put out the attic fire.

Losses were estimated at $80,000 to the structure and $20,000 to its contents, the fire official said, noting that two of the four renters in the four-plex had renters insurance.

Derlacki said the fire “appears to be caused by improperly disposed of cigarettes on the back deck of the home.” It spread from the deck into the attic spaces above units No. 1 and 2, but firewalls in the attic space kept the fire from spreading further.

Redmond Fire Department provided mutual aid coverage during the fire and Bend police helped with traffic control.

Derlacki noted three call-outs on illegal open burns during the incident and said all three will be cited. He reminded residents that debris burning is illegal in the city of Bend and currently banned throughout Central Oregon, due to high fire danger.

Derlacki’s news release concluded with this information:

The Bend Fire Department wants to remind everyone of a few items that were found at this fire:

– If you are a renter, we highly encourage you to get renters insurance. In a fire like this, the building owners insurance will normally only cover the building itself and not the tenant’s contents. Without renters insurance, residents are left to replace clothing, furniture and other belongings on their own. Check with your insurance agent or company to discuss whether renters insurance is right for you.

– Defensible space is not just to protect you from an advancing wildfire. This fire spread to brush just behind the complex and started moving up a hill side with large juniper trees on it. This brush between units had the potential to allow this fire to spread to multiple buildings. By keeping brush cleaned up, trees limbed up and grasses cut down; you can prevent these types of dangers. More info can be found at www.bendoregon.gov/wildfiresafety

– And always after cigarette-caused fires, we remind everyone to dispose of their cigarettes properly, especially during this hot and dry part of the year. Ensure cigarettes are disposed of into non-combustible containers and not allowed to pile up. More info can be found at www.bendoregon.gov/cigarettesafety