Early-morning fire destroys large shop in Plainview area amid exploding ammunition, cylinders

No injuries reported; cause under investigation; $250K in losses include 2 classic cars

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A large shop went up in flames early Wednesday near Fryrear Road east of Sisters, with ammunition and pressurized cylinders exploding and firefighters in a defensive operation. Losses are estimated at $250,000.

Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District crews responded around 1:35 a.m. to called-in reports of a large building on fire with explosions near the 67000 block of Fryrear Road, Fire Chief Thad Olson said.

The first crews to arrive found a 40-by-60-foot shop engulfed in flames, with ammunition and pressurized cylinders exploding, Olsen said.

Fire crews went into defensive operations to keep the blaze from spreading and protect nearby exposures, amid the threat of more explosions, the fire chief said.

Firefighters had the blaze under control within 40 minutes of the initial call and were able to keep it from spreading to nearby structures and vehicles, Olsen said.

The building and its contents were a total loss, including two rare classic cars, the fire chief said.

There were no reported injuries, and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Four engines, four water tenders and 22 firefighters responded. Olsen said the Cloverdale Fire District wants to thank Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Bend Fire & Rescue and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for their response, as well as Black Butte Ranch Fire, which covered the Sisters and Cloverdale districts whole crews were on scene.