Fire consumes Sisters home under remodel

Last updated 3/19/2024 at 3:19pm

Photo courtesy Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District

A fire in the early hours of February 15 totally destroyed a home on Old Barn Court northeast of Sisters.

A home undergoing an extensive remodel was destroyed by fire in the early hours of February 15.

According to Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District (SCSFD), firefighters responded at 2 a.m. on Thursday, February 15, to a report of a house fire in the 69000 block of Old Barn Court northeast of Sisters.

Crews arrived to find a large home heavily involved in fire, with fire venting through the roof of the structure. The initial arriving engine crews from Sisters, supported by an engine from the Cloverdale Fire District (CFD) and a ladder truck from Black Butte Ranch Fire District (BBRFD), were able to bring the fire under control, however the home and contents were a total loss.

Because this incident occurred in a rural area with no fire hydrants nearby, it was supported by water tenders from SCSFD, CFD, and Bend Fire & Rescue, the fire district reported.

The home was undergoing a significant remodel and was unoccupied when the fire broke out. One firefighter suffered a minor injury due to a slip on ice. The firefighter was treated on the scene and released by paramedics. Property loss is estimated to be $2.5 million dollars. Cause of the fire is under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office.

"On arrival we found defensive fire conditions, meaning that the fire had progressed throughout the structure and it was unsafe for firefighters to enter," said Tim Craig, Deputy Chief for Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. "Part of the roof had already collapsed prior to our arrival, and remaining portions of the home collapsed shortly after we got there."

Craig went on to say, "I'd like to thank our partner agencies of CFD and BBRFD for their support on this incident, as well as Bend and Redmond Fire for providing an engine and an ambulance to cover our region while we were busy with this fire."

The total response included three fire engines, one ladder truck, five water tenders, five chief officers, twenty-eight firefighters, and four support volunteers.