Sprinkler keeps fire small at Bend Research in Tumalo

A small air conditioning unit failed and caught on fire in a computer server room at the Bend Research facility in Tumalo early Saturday morning, but a sprinkler system kept the blaze from spreading and possibly causing millions of dollars in damage, an official said.

Bend firefighters responded around 3:30 a.m. to the monitored fire alarm system at the Bend Research facility at 64550 Research Road, said Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki.

Crews found smoke in the hallways and water coming from the sprinkler system, Derlacki said. More crews were called in to assist.

The fire was found in a 100-square-foot room containing Internet servers, backup systems and the main fire alarm system, the fire official said. The flames activated the fire sprinkler head, which kept the fire from spreading outside the room and held damage to an estimated $20,000, according to Derlacki.

Bend Research employees responded to begin the cleanup and repair process, he said.

Derlacki noted the research facility has many costly machines and processes going on inside, many custom-made.

“Just the smoke from a larger fire could have ruined these devices,” said Derlacki, who estimated the value of the building and its contents at $7 million.

Bend Research will be able to operate out of the building when business resumes on Monday while repairs are under way, he added.