A-frame home east of Sisters damaged by fire

An A-frame-style home was heavily damaged by a fire east of Sisters early Sunday morning that apparently began when heat from a wood stove chimney ignited the tall wood-shake roof, officials said Monday.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire District crews were called out shortly after midnight to the home in the 16200 block of Riata Court, said Fire Chief Roger Johnson.

The occupants called 911 when they noticed the wood shake roof was on fire near the chimney and along the lower edge of the roof, where it was close to the ground, Johnson said.

The A-frame has a steep, tall roof extending from close to the ground to more than 20 feet in height, the fire chief said.

A total of 21 firefighters from the Sisters-Camp Sherman, Cloverdale and Black Butte Ranch fire districts responded, along with an off-duty Black Butte Ranch police officer.

The first crews to arrive found the fire on the roof, as well as along the ground near the home’s foundation, Johnson said.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze and used saws to access burning wooden structural members in the floor system, the fire chief said, noting that crews were on scene for 3 1/2 hours putting out the fire.

Johnson said Monday he did not have a damage estimate, but the home sustained significant smoke damage throughout, along with damage to the roof and floor.

The fire apparently was caused by heat from a wood stove chimney. The fire chief said the source of the heat could have been a chimney fire that spread sparks and heat onto the roofing and to the ground on the side of the home.

The home had a smoke alarm that did not function, he noted.

“It was very fortunate that the occupants discovered the fire when they did,” Johnson said in a news release. “The fire was burning into the floor system of the home and would have made it difficult to evacuate safely in a short period of time.”