Bend Fire & Rescue

The Bend Police Department is currently investigating a serious injury crash at the intersection of NE Neff Road and 27th Street. Westbound Neff Road is closed between 27th Street and Medical Center Drive. Both lanes of southbound 27th Street are closed at Neff Road. The left turn lane from Neff Road onto southbound 27th Street is closed. These closures will remain in effect for at least two more hours. Please avoid the area, and if you are in the area please drive carefully. More information will be released when the investigation is complete.

Esta temporada, está permitida la quema de residuos al aire libre en las zonas rurales de los alrededores de Bend que se encuentran bajo la jurisdicción del Departamento de bomberos y rescate de Bend y del Distrito rural de protección contra incendios n.º 2 de Deschutes.

Según el código municipal, está prohibido quemar residuos dentro de los límites de la ciudad de Bend.

Por eso, es muy importante que llame a la línea de atención local para informarse cada vez que vaya a quemar algo. Los habitantes de la zona de Bend deben llamar al 541-322-6335 antes de empezar a quemar residuos para asegurarse de que ese día esté permitido hacerlo.

Las condiciones climáticas, el viento y la calidad del aire pueden cambiar rápidamente, por lo que la quema podría suspenderse en cualquier momento por motivos de seguridad.

Manténgase alerta, respete las normas de seguridad contra incendios y consulte la normativa más reciente y el nivel de riesgo de incendios en www.bendoregon.gov/burninginfo

Outdoor debris burning is open for the season in the rural areas surrounding Bend that are served by Bend Fire & Rescue and Deschutes Rural Fire Protection District #2.

Debris burning is never allowed inside Bend city limits under City Code.

Even in the rural district, high fire danger means it’s critical to call before you burn every single time.

Weather, wind, and air‑quality conditions can change quickly, and burning may be shut down at any time for safety.

Stay vigilant, stay fire‑safe, and check the latest regulations and daily burn status at www.bendoregon.gov/burninginfo.

Today, we celebrate the retirement of Capt. Preston Prosser and honor the 27 years he dedicated to the fire service, including 24 years with Bend Fire & Rescue.

Capt. Prosser's journey began in 1999 as a volunteer firefighter/paramedic and led him through several rural Oregon fire departments before he joined Bend Fire & Rescue in 2002. Over the next two decades, he served as a firefighter/paramedic, engineer and captain, earning the respect of those around him through his dedication, leadership and commitment to serving others.

Throughout his career, Capt. Prosser looked for ways to improve the profession and protect the people who do the job. He spent 16 years serving in union leadership, helped teach firefighter survival skills and devoted more than a decade to leading the department's Uniform and PPE Program. His efforts helped modernize department uniforms, secure professional attire for all members and ensure firefighters had access to high-quality protective equipment that balanced safety, comfort and performance.

Beyond his work at the department, Capt. Prosser was also a longtime supporter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through the Firefighter Stairclimb. As a member of Bend Fire & Rescue's first stair climb team, he spent nearly 20 years participating in and supporting the event, helping raise funds and awareness for blood cancer research and patient support.

Those who know him best will tell you that Capt. Prosser's greatest strength was how he treated people. He has an enormous heart for others and is the kind of person who always shows up for his crew, his friends and his department. That genuine care for people is what made him such an effective leader and respected captain.

While Capt. Prosser is retiring from the line today, his commitment to firefighter safety continues. He will be working part-time with a fire equipment manufacturer, helping departments across Oregon and Washington protect their members through high-quality uniforms and personal protective equipment.

Please join us in congratulating Capt. Preston Prosser on an incredible career and wishing him all the best in retirement.

Bend’s wildfire resilience starts with informed leadership.

This month, elected officials, city leaders and regional partners participated in a tour of the 1996 Skeleton Fire area to learn firsthand how wildfire changed our community and continues to shape our future. The Awbrey Hall and Skeleton Fires that happened in the 90s helped drive many of the preparedness programs, partnerships and mitigation efforts we rely on today – including FireFree, Firewise USA® and Project Wildfire.

By hearing from residents, exploring the burn area and learning from subject matter experts who were a part of the response, these decision-makers gained valuable perspective on the role that land use planning, building codes, emergency management and wildfire mitigation play in reducing risk.

Thank you to the Mayor, City Council, Deschutes County Rural Protection District #2 members and staff who took the time to deepen their understanding of wildfire risk and resilience. Thoughtful policies and strategic investments begin with understanding the realities our community faces.

Deschutes County Natural Resources is accepting applications for the 2026 Fall Fuel Reduction Grant Program. The county has allocated $50,000 to support projects that reduce wildfire risk in communities across Deschutes County.

Fuel Reduction grants help communities complete short-term projects that remove vegetation that can fuel wildfires and improve defensible space around homes and other buildings.

Preference will be given to communities or neighborhoods working toward or already recognized as Firewise USA™ sites. Proposed projects should align with a community’s Firewise action plan and assessment.

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
• Equipment rental
• Supplies for community work parties
• Contractor fees for roadside chipping, fuel reduction, or defensible-space work
• Debris disposal fees

Applications for a Fall Fuel Reduction Grant must be submitted by Sept. 30, 2026. All applicants must provide a tax identification number. Communities without one are required to have a fiscal sponsor with a tax identification number.

Applicants will be notified in November whether they have been awarded a grant.

For more information or to apply for a Fall Fuel Reduction Grant, visit deschutescounty.gov/naturalresources.

Firefighters plan to start fall understory prescribed burning season as early as next Tuesday (9/29) if conditions are favorable.

🗺️Interactive Map w/ Potential Prescribed Burn Locations: centraloregonfire.org/prescribed-fire-smoke-plans/
ℹ️More Information: centraloregonfire.org/2026/09/25/deschutes-national-forest-begins-fall-prescribed-burning/

Firefighters implement understory prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risk to communities. Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within our fire-dependent ecosystem by removing concentrations of vegetation and restoring forest health while increasing public and firefighter safety. Once firefighters ignite prescribed burns, they monitor and patrol the units until they declare the burn out.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews responded to a reported structure fire on Greenmont Drive in southeast Bend just after 4 p.m. this afternoon. Alfalfa Fire District sent a water tender to aid in the response.

Firefighters arrived on scene and initiated fire suppression operations 5 minutes after the initial dispatch. The fire was in the attic area of the structure. No one was home at the time of the fire, due to the house being under construction. There were no injuries reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The estimated loss is $637,493 for both structure and contents.

Attic fires can develop unnoticed because they often begin in areas that are not regularly occupied. Smoke alarms on every level of the house and in every bedroom can provide early warning of a fire. Residents should test smoke alarms monthly and change batteries as needed.

Have you signed up for Deschutes Alerts?​

This National Preparedness Month, take a minute to sign up for Deschutes Alerts to receive important emergency notifications for your area. It's one of the easiest steps you can take to be prepared.​

Receive emergency notifications by phone, text or email at: deschutesalerts.org