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Bend fire department was dispatched for a barn fire on 97th St in Tumalo at 6:30pm this evening. The homeowner came out of the house to find his detached barn on fire and called 911. Resources from Bend, Redmond and Cloverdale fire departments responded to the fire. Crews were able to quickly stop the fire and keep it from spreading to adjacent vehicles and buildings. The barn and its contents are considered a complete loss, $75,000. There were no animals in the barn at the time of the fire.
The occupants had been burning weeds earlier in the day with a propane torch, up against the barn. The barn did not immediately catch fire but had smoldered for several hours before being noticed.
Bend Fire Department, along with all fire departments in Central Oregon, have burning regulations in place to help prevent these types of fires. All burning is required to be 10 feet from other combustibles to help prevent just this type of fire. Even though the barn had metal siding, it is attached to wood framing and planking. The wood was not completely covered by the metal and the torch was able to ignite it. Be sure to check with your local fire department for specific burning regulations for your area. You can find Bend Fire Department’s burning regulations and helpful burning tips at www.bendoregon.gov/burninginfo