Winds send 100-foot tree smashing into NW Bend home

A massive windstorm ripping through the High Desert ripped a massive Douglas fir tree from its roots Friday morning, right into a home off Awbrey Road in northwest Bend.

The 100-foot-tall tree crashed through the roof and side of the house, penetrating the dining room and a bedroom. Fortunately, the renters were not home, and no one was hurt.

Next-door neighbor David Nogueras said he is lucky to be alive.

“My bedroom is on this side of the house,” Nogueras said, pointing to his window just inches from the fallen tree. “The wind was just screaming, and at one point there was this loud crash. It really sounded like something blew up.”

He said he didn’t realize the extent of the damage until after sunrise.

“I knew there were a lot of branches on my roof, but I didn’t know they were attached to the end of 150-foot tree,” Nogueras said.

Although the branches and limbs were scattered across Nogueras’ roof, his home suffered minimal damage — most of the damage was confined to his arbor.

Other neighbors said they heard the tree fall around 1:30 a.m.

“We heard a big noise and some glass shattering,” said neighbor Renee Moseley. “We looked outside, and we couldn’t see anything.”

As soon as daylight hit, it was a big surprise.

“Very shocking — I didn’t think I’d look across the street at the roots of this very large tree,” Moseley said.

Bend police said officers responded to the home about 7:30 a.m. to break down the door and make sure nobody was inside. Fire crews turned off utilities, but it could be days before all the debris is cleaned up.

Bend resident Janet Walkley’s mother owns the house. Walkley said she spent a lot of time there before it was rented out.

“It’s horrible, horrible. Devastating,” Walkley said. “It had the cutest front door with an arch. It’s an adorable old house that’s going to get an upgrade, apparently.”

Neighbors NewsChannel 21 spoke with said they’re relieved it wasn’t worse.

“I’m very grateful nobody was hurt,” Moseley said.

Nogueras is crossing his fingers the neighborhood will weather the next storm better.

“There’s only one, two, three, four more 150-foot trees in the vicinity of my house,” he said with a laugh.

Walkley said her family has insurance on the house and will have it fixed. There’s no word yet on the estimated cost of damage.