Shop Fire Near Tumalo Destroys Vehicles, Causes $220K in Damage
Fuel leak and backfire blamed for blaze that spread to vegetation
Image: Bend Fire & Rescue
TUMALO, Ore. — A structure fire Friday evening in the Tumalo area destroyed a detached shop building, two classic vehicles, and other property, with total losses estimated at approximately $220,000, according to Bend Fire & Rescue.
Crews responded around 5:11 p.m. on March 20 after multiple 911 callers reported a highly visible fire on 76th Street. The blaze could be seen from Highway 97 and Tumalo Road.
When firefighters arrived, they found a fully involved detached shop building with flames spreading into nearby brush and trees. The primary residence on the property and additional detached structures were not damaged.
Mutual aid assistance from Cloverdale Fire District and Redmond Fire helped crews quickly knock down the fire. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office also assisted at the scene. Firefighters remained on scene into the evening conducting mop-up operations and monitoring for hot spots.
Officials later determined the fire was accidental and caused by a fuel leak followed by a backfire from a vehicle parked inside the approximately 1,600-square-foot shop. The structure and its contents were considered a total loss. A nearby travel trailer was also heavily damaged.
Losses are estimated at $100,000 for the structure and $120,000 for the contents and adjacent travel trailer.
Image: Bend Fire & Rescue
Fire officials say vegetation and trees located close to the shop allowed the fire to spread toward other structures, but crews were able to stop the fire before additional homes were impacted.
With wildfire season approaching, Bend Fire & Rescue is reminding residents to create defensible space around all structures on their property. Officials recommend removing bark mulch and vegetation within five feet of foundations and evaluating properties for wildfire risk reduction.
At the time of the response, 76th Street was temporarily blocked north of Limestone while crews worked in the area.
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