Cause under examination; teams on medical transportations trigger mutual-aid call to other departments
La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A roofing and attic fire greatly harmed a La Pine home Sunday afternoon, and while individuals inside got away safe, it’s thought 2 cats died, a fire authorities said.
The La Pine Rural Fire Protection District reacted around 2 p.m. to the reported structure fire in the 15800 block of Bristlecone Lane, fire Captain Ty Miller said.
At the time of the alarm, both of La Pine’s on-duty teams were carrying clients to St. Charles Bend, Miller said.
“This required the district to relay heavily on neighboring departments for assistance until crews could get back to the fire district from Bend,” the captain said in a press release, including, “There was extended travel time for the first attack apparatus from LPFD’s northern station and mutual-aid apparatus coming from Sunriver and Bend.”
“This allowed the fire to grow into a full-scale attic fire along the entirety of the roof,” Miller said. “Upon arrival, large flames were reported to be coming from the roof and the fire was beginning to run the length of the attic.”
Before teams showed up on scene, La Pine occurrence leaders considered it too hazardous for entry, due to the prospective roofing collapse, Miller said, so the fire was battled defensively from outside the home.
Fortunately, he said, all residents left the home securely, and no injuries were reported to residents or firemens, although it’s thought 2 cats regrettably died in the fire.
The efforts of firemens, along with next-door neighbors having lots of defensible space on their residential or commercial properties kept the blaze from extending into trees and close-by brush, Miller said.
The reason for the fire is under examination, he included.
An overall of 17 fire workers were on scene for about 4 hours. During that time, Miller said, the La Pine district had 3 medical emergency situation alarms that were responded to by Crescent and Bend fire teams.
“La Pine Fire District representatives would like to remind all citizens to have properly installed and working fire alarms,” Miller composed.