FD: Smoke alarm a life-saver in trailer fire east of Bend

A working smoke alarm made all the life-saving difference early Saturday for a woman who was awakened by one to a fire that destroyed her fifth-wheel trailer east of Bend, officials said.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews responded shortly before 3 a.m. to the reported fire in a 35-foot trailer used as a primary residence, in the 61000 block of Gribbling Road, said Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki.

Crews arrived to find the trailer fully involved and flames spreading to nearby vehicles, he said. They quickly stopped the fire and kept it from spreading to nearby outbuildings.

The woman who owns the property and lives in the trailer awoke to her smoke alarm sounding and found the trailer on fire, Derlacki said. She and her dog were able to evacuate safely.

The trailer, vehicles and contents were a loss, with damages estimated at $40,000. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

“This is a great example of working smoke alarms saving lives,” Derlacki said in a news release.

He noted that camp trailers and RVs come with smoke alarms and newer ones also have carbon monoxide alarms.

“Camp trailers and RVs are made up of lots of plastics and fiberglass, creating a fast-burning fire with toxic smoke,” the fire official said. “The working smoke alarm gave the occupant the few extra seconds needed to evacuate safely and call 911.”

Derlacki urged everyone to regularly check your smoke alarms, to ensure they are in working order. For more information about smoke alarms, or to request a free home safety consultation and check of your smoke alarms, visit the fire department’s Website, http://www.bendoregon.gov/smokealarms.