Fire destroys Tumalo home; renter without insurance gets Red Cross assistance
Not home at the time; losses estimated at $100,000
TUMALO, Ore. (KTVZ) – A fire destroyed a Tumalo-area manufactured home late Saturday afternoon, and the American Red Cross was called in to assist the renter, who did not have insurance, officials said.
Bend Fire & Rescue was dispatched around 4 p.m. to the reported structure fire in the 65000 block of 97th Street, off Tumalo Road, Deputy Fire Marshal Cindy Kettering said. A next-door neighbor called it in, she added.
Crews arrived to find a fire burning in a 1,500-square-foot manufactured home built in 1979, Kettering said, adding that no one was home at the time of the fire.
While most of the flames were knocked down quickly, Kettering said crews were challenged in finishing the task by a large quantity of combustible materials in and around the home.
Bend Fire was assisted by a water tender from the Cloverdale Fire District. The last units departed around 7:30 p.m.
The renter, who lived alone, did not have insurance and was assisted by a disaster response team from the Red Cross, as both the home and contents were a total loss. Losses were estimated at $80,000 to the structure and $20,000 for the contents.
Three cats were missing, Kettering said, but may have been able to get outside through a cat door.
An investigation determined the fire originated outside the home, in the front deck are, then extended inside.
“The exact cause of the fire could not be determined, but is accidental in nature,” Kettering said.
"Bend Fire & Rescue would like to encourage anyone who is renting or leasing their residence to have renter's insurance," Kettering said in a news release. "The homeowner's insurance policy typically does not cover the possessions of the tenant.
"Renter's insurance is very inexpensive and may cover not only belongings, but living expenses incurred if your home becomes uninhabitable," she added. "For more information on renter's insurance, visit the state of Oregon's page at https://dfr.oregon.gov/insure/home/Pages/renter-insurance.aspx
