Two dogs died after a house fire broke out in a manufactured home in the Romaine Village neighborhood of southwest Bend, Oregon.
According to KTVZ, the fire took place on Monday evening, resulting in the two dogs’ death. However, officials said the incident hadn’t harmed anyone else. Additionally, Bend Fire & Rescue crews contained the blaze relatively quickly. As a result, they successfully stopped the flames from spreading to nearby structures.
Around 6 p.m., multiple callers reported the fire at a home located off Murphy Road near Brookswood Boulevard. According to Bend Fire & Rescue Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki, the fire seemed to come from hot embers that fell out of a wood-burning stove.
Luckily, no one was at home at the time of the incident. However, Derlacki said the fire completely destroyed the home. On top of that, all four occupants and two guests received assistance from the American Red Cross. Altogether, damage to the house and property totaled $50,000.
For about two hours, officials closed several streets until fire crews cleared the scene. At around 7:35 p.m., another structure fire was reported at a home under construction near Summit High School. After noticing smoke coming from the crawlspace vents, a neighbor called 911. Although crews found smoke in the home and crawlspace, there were no active flames. Thankfully, the fire was confined inside the crawlspace, and the smoke was removed.
According to Derlacki, the cause of the fire was not identified. Interestingly, he did say it could be related to construction work earlier in the day. Thankfully, when the fire happened, the house and surrounding area were empty. Overall, the unfinished house suffered $25,000 worth of damage. Afterward, owners and contractors received the home.
Fire safety can protect you and your dog
Unfortunately, the fact that two dogs did die mirrors similar incidents in different parts of the country. In Minnesota, for example, a K9 police dog died at his handler’s house when it was engulfed in flames. Similar to the Oregon fire, the house was empty at the time. However, the fire did kill the canine police officer, as well as the family’s two other dogs.
Also in Minnesota, a man lost his dog — and his 85-year-old grandfather — to a house fire on the family’s property. Hopefully, these incidents will inspire dog owners to take preventative measures to make their homes fireproof. By doing so, dog owners can ensure their own safety, as well as their dogs’.
