Fire destroys La Pine garage-shop; home saved

A fire destroyed a shop-garage in La Pine Tuesday morning, but firefighters were able to keep it from spreading to a nearby home and RV, officials said.

The La Pine Rural Fire Protection District responded at 8:36 a.m. to the reported structure fire at 52044 Dorrance Meadow Road, said Fire Chief Mike Supkis. A total of 15 firefighters, an engine, two water tenders and an ambulance responded, along with command support units, working in temperatures of about 10 degrees.

Deschutes County 911 received several calls from passers-by and neighbors regarding a garage fire next to a home, Supkis said. The owner, James Kinyon, was home and when he learned of the fire, moved a pickup truck that was parked in front of the 20-by-45 foot, wood-framed shop and garage building.

Firefighters arrived within 10 minutes of the first call but the building already was fully ablaze, with flames starting to extend to the nearby double-wide trailer and a parked RV. High-pressure oxygen and acetylene tanks also were venting, Supkis said. A portable carport next to the building also was damaged.

Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire, keeping it from reaching the home and RV. The shop contained a couple of garden tractors, fuel and other shop equipment, as well as firewood storage.

Supkis said firefighters were on scene for about 90 minutes, and no injuries were reported. The property owner did have insurance, he added.

The exact cause of the fire was not known, but the area of origin was determined to be the center of the building, where a 1965 Case garden tractor was stored and on an operating battery charger. The building was not heated, and no lights or other electrical gear was reported to be operating, Supkis said.

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and Midstate Electric Cooperative crews also responded and assisted on the scene.