Bend crews knock down RV fire at homeless camping-designated area

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Fire crews in Deschutes County battled an RV camper fire at a homeless camping-designated area north of Bend on Sunday morning.

Bend Fire & Rescue say the RV fire happened just before noon as Deschutes County 911 received multiple calls reporting the RV fire at the Juniper Ridge Temporary Short Stay Area, just south of Wiley Circle and east of Hwy 97.

Two people lost their RV along with a dog, and a cat is still missing, according to officials. Outreach efforts are underway to help those who were displaced.

The exact cause of the fire could not be immediately determined with an initial investigation, according to officials, but the fire is believed to be accidental in nature.

The fire grew to nearby vegetation and other materials, but officials with Bend Fire & Rescue say the spread was limited thanks to efforts to create defensible space by reducing fuel earlier this year.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews were able to knock down the fire with help from the U.S. Forest Service, Cloverdale Fire District, Oregon State Police and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.