Photo courtesy of Bend Fire & Rescue

At 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 17 2022, Bend Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a reported structure fire in 97th Street in the Tumalo area.  First arriving crews found a working fire involving a single family dwelling, a 1979 manufactured home of approximately 1500 square feet.  No one was at home at the time of the fire.  While the majority of the active fire was knocked down quickly, complete extinguishment was challenging due to a large quantity of combustible materials in and around the home.  Bend Fire was assisted by a water tender from Cloverdale Fire District, and the last units cleared the scene at 7:37 pm.  The single occupant of the residence, a renter who did not have insurance, was assisted by Red Cross, and both the home and contents were a total loss.  Losses are estimated at $80,000 for the structure and $20,000 for the contents.  Three cats are missing but may have been able to get outside through a pet door.  

Upon investigation, it was determined that the fire originated outside the residence at the front deck area and extended into the structure. The exact cause of the fire could not be determined but is accidental in nature.

Bend Fire & Rescue would like to encourage anyone who is renting or leasing their residence to have renter's insurance. The homeowner's insurance policy typically does not cover the possessions of the tenant.  Renter's insurance is very inexpensive and may cover not only belongings, but living expenses incurred if your home becomes uninhabitable.  For more information on renter's insurance, visit the State of Oregon's page at https://dfr.oregon.gov/insure/home/Pages/renter-insurance.aspx