Exploding fireworks and ammunition hamper firefight at Alfalfa home
Tracee Tuesday
ALFALFA, Ore. [KTVZ] — Firefighters in Alfalfa faced a challenging and dangerous scene Monday afternoon when a home on Deer Lane went up in flames, sending fireworks and ammunition exploding into the air.
Crews with the Alfalfa Fire District were called out around 3:25 p.m. to a reported flue fire that quickly escalated into a full structure blaze. Fire Chief Chad Lavalee said firefighters arrived to find thick smoke and flames pouring from the roof and eaves of the single-story home.
Everyone inside was accounted for and no injuries were reported. Crews conducted an interior search to confirm the home was clear before focusing on containing the flames, which were concentrated in the attic. Firefighters also helped the homeowner move vehicles out of the garage to prevent further loss.
Lavalee said the lack of nearby hydrants made the effort especially difficult. Two Alfalfa water tenders and another from Bend Fire & Rescue were used to shuttle water from the nearest fill site, requiring a 35- to 40-minute round trip each time.
“The conditions were dangerous,” Lavalee said. “There were fireworks going off, as well as several hundred rounds of ammunition.”
The home was declared a total loss. Fire investigators are working to determine the cause, and no damage estimate has been released. Crews remained on scene until about 3 a.m. Tuesday.
The fire district thanked the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Bend Fire & Rescue, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office for their assistance.