Dog perishes in La Pine duplex fire

A fire in a La Pine duplex Saturday was out when fire crews arrived, but one of two pet dogs in the unit died in its kennel, authorities said Sunday. The other dog was rescued by a neighbor who the renter called after spotting the fire on a remotely viewable security camera.

Two La Pine Rural Fire Protection District engine crews and a duty officer responded shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday to the report of a duplex fire, Captain Fred Franklin said.

Deschutes County 911 dispatchers’ notes indicated a fire had occurred on the first floor of a multi-family dwelling but that the fire might be out, Franklin said.

Crews arrived to find a fire had occurred in the rear downstairs bedroom of the unit, but because all of the windows and door were tightly closed, the fire ran out of oxygen and self-extinguished, the fire captain said.

There was moderate fire and smoke damage, but it was restricted to the room where it started, where one of the family’s pet dogs was found dead in its kennel.

The renter of the unit was away from the home and first learned of the fire through a live remote security camera located in the residence, Franklin said. He then called a neighbor, who quickly went in and got the family’s other dog safely outside.

The cause of the fire is believed to be electrical, Franklin said, but the exact cause has not been determined.

The renter did not have renter’s insurance, though the building owner carried insurance, the official said.