Fire destroys family home near Sisters

A fire destroyed a home near Sisters and displaced a family of four in winter conditions on Sunday night, February 25.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reports that deputies and firefighters from the Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District were dispatched at about 11 p.m. to a report of a structure fire in the 69000 block of Hinkle Butte Dr. in the Sisters subdivision of Panoramic View Estates.

The homeowners reportedly heard noises in the bedroom area of the home before finding smoke and flames inside their children's bedrooms. The homeowners pulled their children to safety before attempting to extinguish the fire with a household fire extinguisher. The homeowners' attempts to extinguish the fire did not work and the family fled the home wearing only pajamas.

One of the homeowners was treated and released at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the fire, DCSO reports.

Sheriff's office deputies arrived to find the house fully involved with fire and cared for the family until firefighters from Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District arrived. The Cloverdale crew was assisted by firefighters from the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Black Butte Ranch Rural Fire District, and the Crooked River Ranch Rural Fire Protection District.

The City of Bend and Redmond Fire Departments provided fire and medical coverage across the districts during the fire. Firefighters worked into the early morning hours, in sub-freezing conditions, to knock down the fire and investigate the cause.

The house and its contents were a total loss, estimated to be valued at $110,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office, although it is believed to be accidental.

Sheriff's office deputies collected children's clothing from their families in Sisters, handmade quilts donated by the Central Oregon Spinners and Weavers Guild, and stuffed animals for the displaced children. The American Red Cross was also on scene to provide additional resources to the family.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to aid the Jaschke family; donate at www.gofundme.com/jaschke-family.

The homeowner's pet cats were believed to be trapped in the house during the fire. A deputy located one of the cats in the neighborhood, but the second cat has not been seen.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and local firefighting agencies remind local residents to install and regularly inspect smoke detectors inside bedrooms. Besides regularly replacing batteries and testing the smoke alarms, most alarms should be replaced after 10 years from their manufacture date. The manufacture date can be found on the back of the alarm. If you don't have working smoke alarms in your home, complimentary installation resources can be found by contacting your local fire agency or the American Red Cross at 541-749-4144.