Wind-fanned fire destroys home west of Redmond

A fire fanned by strong winds quickly fire destroyed a home west of Redmond Tuesday night, but some passing motorists helped the two residents escape unharmed, an official said.

Redmond Fire and Rescue crews were called around 7:40 p.m. to the fire at a double-wide manufactured home in the 8200 block of West Highway 126, near Northwest 91st Street, Fire Marshal Traci Cooper said.

The first crews on scene reported the house was fully involved in the fire.

The two adult residents were home when the fire broke out but escaped without injury, thanks to two sisters who were traveling on the highway, saw the fire and stopped to help them get out of the burning home, Cooper said.

The homeowners said they had just discovered the fire when their TV’s signal went out and they went to investigate the home.

Firefighters were on scene for several hours extinguishing the blaze and Cooper said crews will be on hand through the night.

Crews kept the fire contained to the home, but it was a total loss. Cooper said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

The house fire was off the highway to the north, she said, so its closure was not needed.

An American Red Cross disaster response team was called in to assist the two residents with their immediate needs.

Four fire engines, two tenders, three ambulances and three support vehicles were called out. Crews from Bend, Crooked River Ranch and Cloverdale fire departments provided assistance, as did the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.