Fire that destroyed outbuilding near Terrebonne, exploded ammo caused by burn barrel

(Update: Adding cause of fire)

Firefighters seek shelter, protect nearby buildings

TERREBONNE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Investigators said Monday a burn barrel sparked a fire that destroyed an outbuilding Saturday night west of Terrebonne, setting off a large amount of ammunition and black powder stored inside, explosions that were heard by over a wide area and forced fire crews to take shelter for a time.

Redmond Fire & Rescue got the first report of the fire around 9 p.m. in the 7000 block of Northwest Grubststake Way, Fire Marshal Tom Mooney said. Dispatchers informed responding crews the building was fully ablaze and there was ammunition inside.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames in the rapidly spreading fire and a large amount of ammunition, prompting them to request mutual aid from several nearby agencies, Mooney said.

Firefighting efforts were hampered due to ammunition and black powder going off inside the structure, which forced crews to temporarily seek shelter and let the ammunition burn while protecting nearby buildings.

Nearby residents reported hearing numerous booms and explosions lasting for at least 15-25 minutes.

Mooney told NewsChannel 21 on Monday, "The cause of the fire was due to a burn barrel being too close to combustible material."

Mooney said it took fire crews about an hour to deem the fire under control, though they were on scene into the overnight hours to keep putting out hot spots throughout the structure's remnants.

There were no reports of injuries.

Redmond Fire & Rescue was assisted by the Bend and Crook County Fire & Rescue agencies and the Cloverdale Rural Fire District, along with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

If property owners plan to use a burn barrel in the rural areas they should follow these guidelines:

• Clear ground down to mineral soil at least 10 feet on each side of barrel.
• Mount barrel 6-10 inches off the ground on metal legs or cement blocks.
• Back the bottom vents with half inch mesh, or punch holes no greater than one half inch on sides of barrel to provide an air supply for hotter, cleaner burning.
• Cover barrel with a lid with holes that are no greater than one half-inch.
• Only dry, nonrecyclable paper or cardboard and untreated or non[1]painted wood products should be burned in a barrel.
• The two most common problems with burn barrels causing fires is the lack of a lid and a barrel that is in such poor condition that burning materials fall out of the sides.
• When you use your barrel, it gets extremely hot and represents a fire risk. Consequently, you must situate your burn barrel at least 30 feet away from your house, greenhouses, and other surrounding objects such as trees and fences while in use.
• Have a fire extinguisher or a hose at hand to extinguish the fire if it gets out of control. Once you have destroyed the trash, it remains a good idea to use the hose to douse any remaining embers inside the barrel.