Bend firefighters put out challenging blaze at Fitness 1440; finding cause hampered by unstable roof

(Update: Adding info on unstable roof)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A fire at a northeast Bend gym Wednesday morning brought numerous firefighters to the scene and took about an hour to knock down, officials said. Finding the cause was challenged as well, due to the blaze leaving the roof unstable.

Firefighters were called around 9:20 a.m. to Fitness 1440 on Northeast Second Street on a report of a fire in the area of the men’s locker room, Bend Fire Inspector Justin Holck said.

All occupants had been evacuated from the gym when fire crews arrived., he said.

Holck said Thursday morning they had not yet been unable to access the building for an investigation to determine the fire's cause due to an unstable roof.

The fire made access into the space between the ceiling and roof, making it difficult to find and fully extinguish. Several roof trusses burned through, making the area unstable, he said.

An August 2017 fire at the same gym caused $85,000 damage.