Man escapes burning travel trailer east of Bend

A man sleeping in an older travel trailer on his father’s property east of Bend was awakened early Wednesday by popping sounds and found the RV was on fire, thus able to escape without injury, officials said.

Firefighters were dispatched about 12:15 a.m. to the property of Warren Michael at 63355 Pioneer Loop on the reported fire in the roughly 25-year-old travel trailer, said Deputy Fire Marshal Jeff Bond.

They arrived to find the trailer fully ablaze but were able to keep the flames from spreading to nearby brush, trees and homes, Bond said.

Attempts by those on scene to put out the fire were unsuccessful, Bond said, adding that there were no injuries.

Losses were estimated at $2,000 to the travel trailer and $500 in contents.

The exact cause of the fire was under investigation, the fire official said, “but preliminary indications are that it is accidental.”

Bond also reminded residents that “working smoke alarms save lives. Don’t forget to have working smoke alarms in any dwelling unit where people sleep, including recreational vehicles.”

“In this instance, the person sleeping in the travel trailer was fortunate to have been awakened before it was too late,” the deputy fire marshal said.