Fire destroys Alfalfa home: Exploding fireworks, ammunition and lack of hydrants challenge firefighters
Barney Lerten
ALFALFA, Ore. (KTVZ) — Firefighters battling a fire that destroyed an Alfalfa home Monday were challenged not only by a lack of hydrants but exploding fireworks and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Alfalfa Fire District crews were sent around 3:25 p.m. to the initial report of a flue fire at a home in the 2500 block of Deer Lane, Fire Chief Chad Lavalee said. While en route, the call was upgraded to a structure fire.
The first crews on scene found heavy smoke billowing from the roof and eaves of the single-story home.
Firefighters were advised upon arrival that everyone was safely out of the home, and no injuries were reported.
Lavalee said they first quickly did an interior search, to ensure no one was inside, all while encountering heavy flames in the ceiling and attic.
Firefighters also were able to help the homeowner by providing safe access to remove vehicles from the garage.
Lavalee said firefighting efforts were hampered by limited water resources, so two Alfalfa water tenders responded, along with a mutual aid tender from Bend Fire and Rescue.
Due to the lack of nearby hydrants, he said the water tenders had a 35- to 40-minute round trip time to the closest fill site.
“There were fireworks going off, as well as several hundred rounds of ammunition,” Lavalee told KTVZ News.
The home is considered a total loss. The fire chief said investigators were working Tuesday to find the cause of the fire, and no damage estimate was available. Crews had been on scene until about 3 a.m.
The fire district thanked the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Bend Fire & Rescue and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, as well as all responding personnel for their support.