Alarms help residents escape La Pine-area house fire

Smoke alarms awakened residents of a La Pine-area home early Sunday, allowing them to escape a fire spreading from the front porch to the outside walls and roof, officials said.

The La Pine Rural Fire Protection District responded around 5:40 a.m. to the reported fire at a home in the 16000 block of Jacinto Road, north of La Pine, Lt. Luke Jerome said.

Crews arrived to find flames on the front porch, extending to the exterior walls and roof, Jerome said.

All of the occupants already had evacuated the home, he said, and smoke alarms were sounding.

Crews made a quick knockdown of the fire and began checking the exterior and attic for any extension. Jerome said the fire was held to the exterior of the home, with minimal extension into the attic.

An initial investigation indicated the fire’s cause likely was electrical in nature, the lieutenant said.

La Pine Fire was assisted at the scene by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Sunriver Fire Department. Midstate Electric Co-Op also responded.

A total of 14 personnel were called out and were on scene nearly 90 minutes.

KTVZ 2019