Jefferson County firefighters battle frigid cold, flames to put out garage/pole barn fire north of Madras; $350,000 in losses

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Jefferson County firefighters battled 4-degree cold, icy roads and freezing fog Monday morning to get to and extinguish a fire that destroyed a garage/pole barn structure and several vehicles on Northeast Gumwood Lane north of Madras. Losses were estimated at $350,000.

A homeowner called 911 shortly before 8 a.m. to report the structure, located about 40 feet from his home, was on fire, according to Jared Earnest, deputy chief of prevention for Jefferson County Fire & EMS.

The family of five, including three children, evacuated the home as a precaution and were unharmed, Earnest said.

The extreme winter weather conditions delayed and hindered firefighters’ initial response, as did prior 911 medical calls around the district. Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies also responded to the scene.

The first fire crews arrived to find the pole barn engulfed in flames, with exposure to the home, Earnest said. They went into a defensive strategy on the burning structure and protected the exposed homes. They also quickly removed propane tanks attached to a travel trailer located by the pole barn to reduce the threat of a potential explosion.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The homeowner said he had a bumper-pull travel trailer, 35 to 40 professional-grade RC (radio-controlled) cars, a sports car, a boat, UTVs and dirt bikes, as well as a chicken coop attached to the structure’s exterior; no chickens perished, Earnest said.

All of the vehicles were lost, Earnest said, and only the trailer was outside of it, right beside the shop and too close to save, as it was already ablaze. Losses to the building and contents were estimated at $350,000.

Jefferson County Fire & EMS thanked sheriff’s deputies who assisted at the scene and Redmond Fire & Rescue, who provided an ambulance to help cover the district.

Jefferson County Fire and EMS would like to remind everyone that during this time of the year to be careful with heating appliances and accessories. Jefferson County Fire and EMS recommends these tips:

• Make sure all heating equipment is in good working order. Heating systems and chimneys should be cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from all heating equipment, including furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, warming lamps, and space heaters.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, as specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.
• Make sure space heaters are in good working order and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep.