Fire caused by unattended barbecue destroys Tollgate home; the family escapes unharmed, but the firefighter is injured

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A fire caused by an unattended Traeger grill smoker on the porch destroyed a home in the Tollgate subdivision northwest of Sisters Friday afternoon. The family inside escaped without injury, authorities said, but a firefighter was injured.

Crews from the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District responded around 4:20 p.m. to a reported house fire in the 14800 block of Saddle Horn in the Tollgate area, the division chief and safety officer said fire, Jeff Puller.

Crews arrived to find the single-family home heavily involved in fire, with flames spreading to grass and brush, Puller said.

Sisters' first engine crews were assembled by an engine from the Cloverdale Rural Fire District, a ladder truck from Black Butte Ranch Fire and firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service.

They managed to bring the fire under control, but the house and its contents were a total loss. The material loss was estimated at $200,000.

The American Red Cross was called to assist the displaced family.

An injured firefighter was taken to hospital.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office and the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District investigated and determined that the fire was caused by an unattended Traeger smoker operating on the porch, which caught fire and spread throughout the house, Puller said.