Wind-fanned fire heavily damages NE Redmond home

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A stubborn, wind-driven fire heavily damaged a northeast Redmond home late Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Redmond Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched shortly after 4 p.m. to the fire in a single-story home in the 800 block of Northeast Yucca Avenue, Deputy Fire Marshal Clara Butler said.

Butler said crews arrived to find the single-story home with heavy flames coming from the east side of the building and growing rapidly due to the high winds.

Acting Battalion Chief Ken Brown said a search confirmed no one was home in the older home, which had undergone several remodels and additions over the years, another element that challenged firefighters.

"Half of the home was destroyed," Brown said; Butler noted there was smoke damage throughout, but no injuries, evacuatuions or missing pets,

The cause of the fire was under investigation, according to Brown, who said an excavator arrived Tuesday night to help in the effort.

Part of the structure collapsed on the east end of the home, where the kitchen, dining room and living area were, along with a covered porch. He said crews kept the flames from reaching an old log deck about 100 feet away.

It took until 6:45 p.m. to bring the fire under control.

Mutual aid was provided by the Bend, Cloverdale and Crooked River Ranch fire departments, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and Central Electric Cooperative.