Candle lit for warmth sparks fire, destroying SUV being used as living quarters in Bend’s Juniper Ridge area
Barney Lerten
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A fire sparked by a candle being used for warmth destroyed a vehicle Friday morning in the Juniper Ridge area north of Bend, often referred to as “Dirt World.”
At 7:17 a.m., several 911 callers reported a column of smoke in the Juniper Ridge area, near the Central Oregon Irrigation Hydro Plant, on property owned by the City of Bend, Bend Fire & Rescue Deputy Fire Marshal Cindy Kettering said.
The first crews to arrive found a passenger vehicle fully engulfed, with fire spreading to a tree and adjacent vegetation.
Kettering said firefighters were able to quickly contain and extinguish the fire, with mutual aid assistance provided by a water tender from Redmond Fire. One person was transported by ambulance to St Charles Medical Center in Bend.
Upon investigation, it was determined that the vehicle, a Nissan Pathfinder SUV, was being used as living quarters and was occupied at the time of the fire. A candle was being used to keep warm, and the candle ignited nearby combustibles inside the vehicle.
The vehicle and contents were a complete loss, estimated at $8,000, the fire official said in a news release.
Kettering wrote, “Bend Fire & Rescue would like to remind the community that anything which produces heat needs a safe space around it.
“Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from all heating equipment such as fireplaces and space heaters. Make sure that fueled portable heaters are rated for indoor use. If they are for outdoor use only, they can produce deadly carbon monoxide if used in an enclosed area.
“For more safety tips, visit our website at https://www.bendoregon.gov/government/departments/fire-rescue/community-programs