Two dumpsters near local businesses were intentionally set afire late Friday night, and two others at a single location were ignited early Saturday morning, causing an estimated $70,000 in damage to the Rent-A-Center store in Bend and prompting a reminder to business owners to keep dumpsters and trash receptacles at least ten feet away from buildings.
According to Deputy Fire Marshal Susie Lovisco, the fires have been ruled as arson, and anyone with information regarding the blazes are asked to contact the Deschutes County non-emergency number at 693-6911.
Rent-a-Center, 449 SE Third Street
The first recycling dumpster burned near the United Parcel Service at 2288 NE Underwood at 10:05 p.m. August 4.
At 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, three engine companies and 13 fire personnel from the Bend Fire Department responded to the second dumpster fire, where the blaze from two dumpsters had extended into the attic of the Rent-A-Center store at 449 SE Third Street.
Fire crews made an aggressive attack from the exterior of the building, and were able to confine the fire to the attic area directly above the dumpster, although the roof truss system sustained heavy damage. The building received an estimated $50,000 in fire damage, and moderate smoke damage to the contents of the store is estimated at $20,000 according to Battalion Chief Bob Madden.
The last reported incident occurred shortly after 4 a.m. on Saturday, when another recycling dumpster fire was reported at 600 SE Third Street near Sargent’s Café.