Investigator: Smoker’s match may have started duplex blaze

A fire first reported on the deck of a duplex in Bend’s Broken Top subdivision quickly spread to the home’s exterior before firefighters rushed in and stopped the blaze Wednesday afternoon.

The cause was found to be improper disposal of smoking materials on the home’s back deck — and may have been a match used to light a cigarette, said Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki..

The initial call at 2:46 p.m. was of a possible structure fire, maybe a deck, at a home on Northwest Metolius Drive. Crews on the way said they could see a smoke column. The fire soon was confirmed have begun on the deck of a two-story duplex at 61701 Northwest Bridge Creek Drive.

Fierce flames greeted arriving firefighters who confirmed the structure fire. Flames were in the eaves and quickly engulfing the rear of the townhome, witnesses said.

Bend Fire Battalion Chief Dave Howe said crews were able to stop the fire within 13 minutes of arrival, confining the damage to the exterior of one duplex unit.

“The firefighters used a large-diameter hose to apply sufficient water to stop the fire quickly,” he said.

Damages were estimated at $30,000 to the building.

Derlacki added this information:

As always, the Bend Fire Department urges everyone to be safe with their smoking materials, especially this time of year when it is hot and dry out. Ensure all smoking materials are disposed of properly, not just the cigarette butt.

In this case, Derlacki said, the match that lit the cigarette may have been the cause.

However, Derlacki added, “I couldn’t rule out the matches he used, the ash from his pipe/cigarette or the cigarette but itself. I think he either dropped the match, ash or butt into either a plastic flower pot or directly onto the wood decking in the corner of the deck near the door.”

He offered these tips:

Ensure any matches, ashes or cigarette butts are disposed of into non-combustible containers and those containers are emptied regularly to prevent its contents from catching fire.

In 2015 alone, Bend Fire Department has seen 41 cigarette-caused fires (both wildland and structural) causing over $370,000 in damage in all of those fires. On average over the past 10 years, BFD responses to 40 such fires causing $200,000 in damage per year. We are already ahead of the average and just barely halfway through the year.

Cigarette-related fires are easily prevented by following these simple steps:
– Always discard smoldering and spent cigarettes properly.
– Dispose of them into noncombustible containers.
– Select ashtrays that reduce the chances of a burning cigarette falling or tipping over
– Check wastebaskets and cushions in rooms where people have been smoking to
ensure no cigarette embers that are still burning.
– Check bark mulch areas and wood decks to ensure nothing is smoldering there.
– Smoking and drinking can be as deadly as drinking and driving. If you host a party
and allow smoking, check under chair/sofa cushions, above and below decks in
bark areas before going to bed.
– Get in the habit of watching out for unattended, but smoldering cigarettes.
– Never smoke in bed or anywhere when drowsy. Cigarettes can smolder longer than
most bedding materials and upholstery can resist igniting.
More information can be found at www.bendoregon.gov/cigarettesafety/

Also, Howe added, “The Bend Fire Department reminds the community that we are under Extreme Fire conditions, and everyone is advised to exercise the greatest caution and care with any source of ignition. It is likely that we will remain in Extreme for the foreseeable future.”