Apartment Fire Stopped By Fire Sprinklers (Photo)
- 06/16/26
Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a report of fire alarms sounding in a 3rd-floor apartment in the Stonebriar Apartment Complex on Bend’s east side just before 1pm. First arriving crews found the fire sprinkler system had activated in the apartment due to a fire. Apartment management was working on evacuating the building as we arrived.
Fire fighters quickly ensured the fire was out and turned off the sprinklers. With the water off, crews worked to start the water removal from not only the 3rd floor apartment where the fire was but the two apartments below. Red Cross was called to assist the displaced occupants. Because the fire sprinklers kept the fire from growing and spreading, only 3 of the 14 apartments in the building were affected. Luckily all tenants have renters’ insurance as required by the management company. The tenants will likely only be out of their apartments for a few days or weeks instead of months to years if the building wasn’t equipped with fire sprinklers. Without sprinklers, likely all 14 apartments would have been affected.
The fire was caused by an unattended candle left on a shelf. The candle ignited nearby combustibles and started to spread. Once enough heat got to the closest sprinkler head it activated and put out the fire. This limited the overall damage to $40,000 between the three apartments. Bend Fire & Rescue reminds everyone to never leave candles unattended and ensure they are well away from combustibles when lit.
Apartment Fire Stopped By Fire Sprinklers (Photo)
- 06/16/26
Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a report of fire alarms sounding in a 3rd-floor apartment in the Stonebriar Apartment Complex on Bend’s east side just before 1pm. First arriving crews found the fire sprinkler system had activated in the apartment due to a fire. Apartment management was working on evacuating the building as we arrived.
Fire fighters quickly ensured the fire was out and turned off the sprinklers. With the water off, crews worked to start the water removal from not only the 3rd floor apartment where the fire was but the two apartments below. Red Cross was called to assist the displaced occupants. Because the fire sprinklers kept the fire from growing and spreading, only 3 of the 14 apartments in the building were affected. Luckily all tenants have renters’ insurance as required by the management company. The tenants will likely only be out of their apartments for a few days or weeks instead of months to years if the building wasn’t equipped with fire sprinklers. Without sprinklers, likely all 14 apartments would have been affected.
The fire was caused by an unattended candle left on a shelf. The candle ignited nearby combustibles and started to spread. Once enough heat got to the closest sprinkler head it activated and put out the fire. This limited the overall damage to $40,000 between the three apartments. Bend Fire & Rescue reminds everyone to never leave candles unattended and ensure they are well away from combustibles when lit.
Vehicle Fire At Auto Wrecking Yard North Of Bend 6/3/26 (Photo)
- 06/03/26
At 9:43 a.m. Wednesday morning Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a reported fire at B&R Auto Wrecking on Hwy 97 just north of Bend. Multiple 911 calls came in about a vehicle on fire at the wrecking yard next to the main building. Employees on the scene were able to move two burning cars away from the building to prevent it from catching fire. Responders arrived to find the two vehicles on fire with flames spreading to a nearby tire pile and into the grass along the southernmost property line bordering Four Seasons Mobile Home Park. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies and first arriving firefighters were able to stop the grass fire from spreading, and the next arriving engines knocked the fire down within 10 minutes. An employee was treated on scene for a minor injury. Two vehicles bound for crushing and a pile of tires were the only losses.
The cause of the fire was accidental. The fire was caused when staff were dismantling a vehicle before crushing. As the gas tank was being drained for disposal of the fuel, a spark from an electric tool ignited the fumes and started the vehicle and adjacent material on fire. The fire spread to a pile of approximately 50 tires. Those tires burning caused the large plume of black smoke visible from the north end of Bend.
B&R Auto Wrecking follows State law for auto wrecking facilities that limit storage of materials and goods near dismantling processes and buildings. These rules came into effect after major auto wrecking fires in the Portland area caused significant fire and environmental damage in the past decade. B&R’s compliance with these rules and annual inspections with Bend Fire & Rescue prevented the piles of tires and combustibles from being too large to contain when firefighters arrived. The separation meant tanks of old oil, coolant, and gasoline were far enough away from the fire to prevent them from becoming involved and adding to the incident.
Vehicle Fire At Auto Wrecking Yard North Of Bend 6/3/26 (Photo)
- 06/03/26
At 9:43 a.m. Wednesday morning Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a reported fire at B&R Auto Wrecking on Hwy 97 just north of Bend. Multiple 911 calls came in about a vehicle on fire at the wrecking yard next to the main building. Employees on the scene were able to move two burning cars away from the building to prevent it from catching fire. Responders arrived to find the two vehicles on fire with flames spreading to a nearby tire pile and into the grass along the southernmost property line bordering Four Seasons Mobile Home Park. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies and first arriving firefighters were able to stop the grass fire from spreading, and the next arriving engines knocked the fire down within 10 minutes. An employee was treated on scene for a minor injury. Two vehicles bound for crushing and a pile of tires were the only losses.
The cause of the fire was accidental. The fire was caused when staff were dismantling a vehicle before crushing. As the gas tank was being drained for disposal of the fuel, a spark from an electric tool ignited the fumes and started the vehicle and adjacent material on fire. The fire spread to a pile of approximately 50 tires. Those tires burning caused the large plume of black smoke visible from the north end of Bend.
B&R Auto Wrecking follows State law for auto wrecking facilities that limit storage of materials and goods near dismantling processes and buildings. These rules came into effect after major auto wrecking fires in the Portland area caused significant fire and environmental damage in the past decade. B&R’s compliance with these rules and annual inspections with Bend Fire & Rescue prevented the piles of tires and combustibles from being too large to contain when firefighters arrived. The separation meant tanks of old oil, coolant, and gasoline were far enough away from the fire to prevent them from becoming involved and adding to the incident.
Fire On BNSF Train 6-2-26 (Photo)
- 06/03/26
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026 around 3:15 p.m. Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a reported train on fire just south of Baker Road near Deschutes River Woods. 911 callers from Morningstar School and BNSF reported fire coming from the lead locomotive. Fire crews arrived to find smoke and flames on top of the locomotive where the braking system is housed. Fire extinguishers and water were used to extinguish the fire quickly. No injuries were reported.
The engineers on board were heading north on BNSF’s line from Klamath Falls when they felt a jolt on the train before seeing smoke. They were able to quickly stop the train before entering town to prevent blocking traffic lanes and prevented a brush fire from taking off by coming to rest in an area where a fire break had been created by previous wildfire mitigation efforts. No cargo or other locomotives were threatened by the fire. BNSF stopped all north/south traffic in the area until the damaged locomotive could be removed, and the train could be moved to a central Bend staging yard. Cheyenne Rd was closed for a time during the incident to allow firefighting hoses to be deployed to the locomotive.
This unique response highlights the various aspects of firefighting that crews need to be prepared for. By using the expertise of the train crews and past experiences, the fire was quickly stopped while ensuring safety for everyone on scene. Locomotives create immense amounts of electricity to move the heavy trains and that same electricity makes fighting fires on them extremely dangerous.
This incident also highlighted a community effort in Deschutes River Woods led by the neighborhood association, Bend Fire & Rescue, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office (OSFM) and in party by BNSF. A grant from OSFM was awarded in 2024 to help reduce the vegetation in and around the large subdivision. Large areas of open land on both sides of the railroad tracks were mechanically mowed to remove overgrown brush and create a fire break along the eastern edge of the neighborhood. This was done to prevent the spread of wildfire into or out of the neighborhood. This cleared area not only provided a safe working zone for firefighters - it also reduced the risk greatly that the fire in this train could have spread to the neighborhood. This is an example of where creating defensible space around your home and neighborhood can help protect your home from more than just wildfires. Learn more about creating defensible space on your property at bendoregon.gov/own-your-zone.
Fire On BNSF Train 6-2-26 (Photo)
- 06/03/26
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026 around 3:15 p.m. Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a reported train on fire just south of Baker Road near Deschutes River Woods. 911 callers from Morningstar School and BNSF reported fire coming from the lead locomotive. Fire crews arrived to find smoke and flames on top of the locomotive where the braking system is housed. Fire extinguishers and water were used to extinguish the fire quickly. No injuries were reported.
The engineers on board were heading north on BNSF’s line from Klamath Falls when they felt a jolt on the train before seeing smoke. They were able to quickly stop the train before entering town to prevent blocking traffic lanes and prevented a brush fire from taking off by coming to rest in an area where a fire break had been created by previous wildfire mitigation efforts. No cargo or other locomotives were threatened by the fire. BNSF stopped all north/south traffic in the area until the damaged locomotive could be removed, and the train could be moved to a central Bend staging yard. Cheyenne Rd was closed for a time during the incident to allow firefighting hoses to be deployed to the locomotive.
This unique response highlights the various aspects of firefighting that crews need to be prepared for. By using the expertise of the train crews and past experiences, the fire was quickly stopped while ensuring safety for everyone on scene. Locomotives create immense amounts of electricity to move the heavy trains and that same electricity makes fighting fires on them extremely dangerous.
This incident also highlighted a community effort in Deschutes River Woods led by the neighborhood association, Bend Fire & Rescue, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office (OSFM) and in party by BNSF. A grant from OSFM was awarded in 2024 to help reduce the vegetation in and around the large subdivision. Large areas of open land on both sides of the railroad tracks were mechanically mowed to remove overgrown brush and create a fire break along the eastern edge of the neighborhood. This was done to prevent the spread of wildfire into or out of the neighborhood. This cleared area not only provided a safe working zone for firefighters - it also reduced the risk greatly that the fire in this train could have spread to the neighborhood. This is an example of where creating defensible space around your home and neighborhood can help protect your home from more than just wildfires. Learn more about creating defensible space on your property at bendoregon.gov/own-your-zone.
Structure Fire On 76th Street In Tumalo (Photo)
- 05/24/26
Shortly after 2:30 pm on Sunday, May 24, 2026, multiple 911 callers reported a residence on fire in the Tumalo area on 76th Street. First arriving fire crews from Bend Fire & Rescue found a heavily involved split level home with fire extending into adjacent brush and trees. Neighbors on either side of the home were using garden hoses to prevent the vegetation from igniting and spreading. The fire was quickly knocked down, but due to the extent of the fire and the lack of fire hydrants in the area, full extinguishment was delayed. No one was at home at the time of the fire, and the Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. Losses are estimated at $500,000 to the structure and $75,000 to contents. Mutual aid was provided by Cloverdale Fire, Redmond Fire, and Oregon Department of Forestry.
The fire is under investigation at this time.
With much attention right now on protecting your home and property from the threat of wildfire, it can be easy to overlook preparation for when a wildfire strikes. This is a good time to make a plan - before there is a wildfire. Have emergency supplies such as food, water, important documents, medications, and other essentials ready to go. Have a plan for communication with family members, and when you are told to evacuate, do so quickly. For more information on preparedness, visit our website at https://bendoregon.gov/departments/public-safety/fire-rescue/community-resources-programs/own-your-zone/
Structure Fire On 76th Street In Tumalo (Photo)
- 05/24/26
Shortly after 2:30 pm on Sunday, May 24, 2026, multiple 911 callers reported a residence on fire in the Tumalo area on 76th Street. First arriving fire crews from Bend Fire & Rescue found a heavily involved split level home with fire extending into adjacent brush and trees. Neighbors on either side of the home were using garden hoses to prevent the vegetation from igniting and spreading. The fire was quickly knocked down, but due to the extent of the fire and the lack of fire hydrants in the area, full extinguishment was delayed. No one was at home at the time of the fire, and the Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. Losses are estimated at $500,000 to the structure and $75,000 to contents. Mutual aid was provided by Cloverdale Fire, Redmond Fire, and Oregon Department of Forestry.
The fire is under investigation at this time.
With much attention right now on protecting your home and property from the threat of wildfire, it can be easy to overlook preparation for when a wildfire strikes. This is a good time to make a plan - before there is a wildfire. Have emergency supplies such as food, water, important documents, medications, and other essentials ready to go. Have a plan for communication with family members, and when you are told to evacuate, do so quickly. For more information on preparedness, visit our website at https://bendoregon.gov/departments/public-safety/fire-rescue/community-resources-programs/own-your-zone/
Structure Fire On Brody Lane In Bend 05/21/26 (Photo)
- 05/22/26
At 11:30 pm on Thursday, May 21 2026, multiple 911 callers reported a structure fire near Boyd Acres Rd in NE Bend. First arriving fire units found two residences heavily involved in fire with extension into nearby brush and trees and a second alarm was called. The fire was knocked down quickly, with fire progression stopped within 45 minutes. Assistance was received during the incident from Redmond Fire & Rescue, Cloverdale Fire, and Sunriver Fire. Both residences were uninhabitable with one a total loss, and Red Cross assistance was requested for the residents. Losses are estimated in excess of 1 million dollars.
The fire is under investigation at this time.
The fire did extend into adjacent brush and trees, but was quickly stopped by fire crews. Wildfires and wildfire losses aren't just in rural areas, they can occur even within City limits. Taking simple steps, such as clearing combustible material within 5 feet of the house and using non-combustible ground cover, can greatly reduce the risk of losing your home to wildfire. For more information on reducing wildfire risk, visit https://bendoregon.gov/departments/public-safety/fire-rescue/community-resources-programs/own-your-zone/
Structure Fire On Brody Lane In Bend 05/21/26 (Photo)
- 05/22/26
At 11:30 pm on Thursday, May 21 2026, multiple 911 callers reported a structure fire near Boyd Acres Rd in NE Bend. First arriving fire units found two residences heavily involved in fire with extension into nearby brush and trees and a second alarm was called. The fire was knocked down quickly, with fire progression stopped within 45 minutes. Assistance was received during the incident from Redmond Fire & Rescue, Cloverdale Fire, and Sunriver Fire. Both residences were uninhabitable with one a total loss, and Red Cross assistance was requested for the residents. Losses are estimated in excess of 1 million dollars.
The fire is under investigation at this time.
The fire did extend into adjacent brush and trees, but was quickly stopped by fire crews. Wildfires and wildfire losses aren't just in rural areas, they can occur even within City limits. Taking simple steps, such as clearing combustible material within 5 feet of the house and using non-combustible ground cover, can greatly reduce the risk of losing your home to wildfire. For more information on reducing wildfire risk, visit https://bendoregon.gov/departments/public-safety/fire-rescue/community-resources-programs/own-your-zone/