Local firefighters train for ice rescues, which they say could be more common with central Oregon’s unseasonably warm weather.
Tag: Bend Fire and Rescue
Out of the Flames
Seven people miraculously escaped a house fire on Awbrey Butte on Wednesday morning.
The family, which included two children, two adults and three adult guests visiting for the holidays, were able to exit the home unharmed. However, the family’s two dogs perished in the fire and the home itself was destroyed.
According to Dave Howe of Bend Fire & Rescue, when crews arrived early Wednesday morning the 3,000 square foot home was already completely engulfed in flames. Howe said the family did exactly what they were supposed to do, everyone left the home as soon as the smoke alarms went off, and that kept anyone from being injured in the blaze.
Unfortunately due to the intensity of the burn, firefighters have so far been unable to pinpoint the cause of the fire. Despite extra units from Redmond and Sunriver assisting in fighting the blaze the home was declared a loss and the fire even damaged neighboring homes.
Central Oregon Daily’s Anyssa Bohanan has more.
Central Oregon Strike Team Heads South to Aid in California Wildfires
A strike team from Central Oregon is heading to Southern California, where local firefighters will help in the efforts to battle wildfires that have burned tens of thousands of acres, and are threatening thousands of homes.
Central Oregon Daily’s Anyssa Bohanan caught up with some of the Bend firefighters before they left on a mission that will keep them from being home for the holidays.
Bend Fire Hosts Second-Annual Warm Clothing Drive
It started as one firefighter’s idea to help the community during the holidays, and it’s grown into a department-wide effort to benefit non-profits in Bend.
Central Oregon Daily’s Anyssa Bohanan joined the Bend Fire Department as they concluded their second annual winter clothing drive today.
School Recognized for Participation in Public Safety Campaign
The Bend Fire Department is on a mission to educate local students about the dangers of fire, and how to get out safely when one starts in their home. That’s why the department created the Firebusters Public Safety Campaign, and today, one local school was recognized for their participation in the effort.
Central Oregon Daily’s Austin Reed was there when the kids got some special visitors on campus.
Smoke Alarms Save Lives
Bend Fire Battalion Chief Dave Howe explains how a local family escaped their burning home safely, thanks to working smoke alarms. He also shows off the department’s new “After the Fire” resource booklet.
Bend Firefighters Return from Wildfires in the California Wine Country
The estimates on the numbers of homes and buildings destroyed in the Wine Country wildfires has now topped 8,400, and with 42 people killed, the fires are also the deadliest in California history. Strike teams from Central Oregon traveled to places like Santa Rosa and Napa to battle those fires two weeks ago, but tonight, they are back home.
Central Oregon Daily’s Allison Roecker spent time with two of the Bend firefighters who became eyewitnesses to the devastation.
Bend Firefighters Battling Wildfires in Wine Country
City of Bend firefighters are back on the front line of the wildfires burning in California’s wine country.
A Bend Fire and Rescue engine and crew of 6 joined ten other Strike Teams from Oregon to head to California on Wednesday morning and worked a 24-hour shift before taking a day off, and they are back at it today. Here is one of the latest photos of their efforts, courtesy of the Bend Fire Department.
Bend Firefighters Deployed to California for First Time Ever
For the first time in the department’s history, Bend Firefighters Local 227 engine and crew have been deployed to Northern California to help battle a massive wildfire that’s destroyed more than 200,000 homes and buildings and claimed dozens of lives.
Central Oregon Daily’s Austin Reed caught up with Battalion Chief Dave Howe of the Bend Fire Department to discuss how the team plans to help battle the blaze.
Central Oregon Agencies Form Information Network
With more than 100,000 people expected to descend on Central Oregon for the total solar eclipse this August, emergency service officials knew they needed to coordinate their efforts in the event of a wildfire or any other disaster. Fortunately, they had already been working on a plan since the last major wildfire that threatened in Bend three years ago, and now, they are ready to unveil Central Oregon Emergency Information Network.
Central Oregon Daily’s Anyssa Bohanan has the story.
