Bend fire crews stop blaze that burned homeless encampment, threatened businesses on NE Olney Avenue
(Update: Adding video)
Fire official: Businesses' stored pallets, wood, flammable vegetation heightened the danger
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Several reports of a fire behind warehouses and businesses in northeast Bend Sunday night brought firefighters to the scene, and they stopped the blaze, which destroyed a homeless camp behind one building before it could spread inside, an official said.
Bend Fire & Rescue crews responded to multiple 911 calls around 9:30 p.m. of a fire on the exterior of a commercial building at Northeast First Street and Olney Avenue, Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said.
A building occupant in the 100 block of Olney Avenue said she was working on preparing the space for her new business when she heard several bangs outside. She went outside to check, found ash was falling into the parking lot and quickly called 911, Derlacki said.
Fire crews were able to stop the blaze before it could spread inside the adjacent building and kept it from reaching two neighboring structures, he said. Damage was estimated at $50,000.
The burned-up remains of a homeless encampment were found in the area behind the building. Derlacki said it’s unclear at this time the exact cause of the fire, and the investigation is continuing, “but it is related to the camp.”
Derlacki said the fire caused only minor damage to the nearest building and one to the west of it, adding, “The quick reaction of the occupant saved hers and neighboring buildings."
However, he added, "Hampering fire suppression and allowing the fire to spread was a accumulation of pallets, wood, stored materials and flammable vegetation on all three properties involved.
"Creating a defensible space around your home and business isn’t just for wildfire safety, it can help prevent the spread of any type of fire to your building," Derlacki said in a news release.
"Keeping combustible vegetation at least 5 feet back from the building and preventing the buildup of combustible storage, especially in inaccessible areas, can greatly increase the safety of your home and business.
"In this case, the two buildings along NE Second Street had wood material stacked up between and behind their buildings," the deputy fire marshal continued. "The building behind the fire off NE First Street had dense juniper bushes right up against the building in an area with only 10 feet between the buildings.
"The juniper bushes caught fire and broke out one of the windows in the back building," Derlacki said. "Had this fire not been caught as early as it was, the potential that all three buildings would have burned is very high.
"If you have any questions or would like a free assessment of your home or business, please call our office at 541-322-6300," the fire official concluded.
