Good Electrical Connection Prevent Fires

From KTVZ.COM news sources

A fire that destroyed a shop building and most of its contents in Deschutes River Woods Sunday afternoon was traced by investigators to an electrical connection to a home about 100 feet away.

Owner Douglas Morgan was in the house at 19086 Choctaw Rd. eating lunch when he noticed the fire and called Deschutes County 911 around 1:45 p.m., said Bend Fire Battalion Chief Bob Madden.

Arriving units found the 20-by-30 shop building heavily involved in the fire, which had spread to an adjacent wood pile, Madden said in a news release.

Firefighters quickly knocked down the blaze, he said, but not before it destroyed most of what was inside, causing an estimated $8,000 damage to the building and $8,000 to its contents.

There were no injuries, Madden added.

The battalion chief said the homeowner had just completed an electrical connection from his home to the older shop building, but an investigation determined the building's old wiring could not handle the electrical load and overheated.

Madden reminded property owners to have a licensed electrician involved in any changes or additions to electrical service in building.