A tragic incident unfolded in North Bend yesterday afternoon when a house fire on Sherman Avenue claimed the life of local resident Kayla Pagent, aged 40. According to City of North Bend's city officials, the fire department received a distress call at 1:47 p.m. and responded to the 2555 Sherman Ave. residence, arriving just two minutes later to witness smoke emerging from the upper story of the dwelling.
Efforts to quell the blaze saw firefighters conducting a search where they successfully rescued a dog and discovered Pagent inside; despite their immediate life-saving attempts and transportation to Bay Area Hospital, she was later pronounced deceased, Fire Chief Jim Brown disclosed the sequence of events while the scene remained active until late afternoon firefighters remained there until 4:57 p.m., battling not just the flames but the unforgiving reality of mortality bound within the smoky confines of what was once a home.
Investigators from the North Bend Fire Department, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the North Bend Police Department concluded that an unattended open flame initiated the catastrophe and confirmed there was no element of foul play involved, Chief Brown explained the cause of the fire, emphasizing its accidental nature, thus warding off any specter of malevolence that may have lingered over the scorched remnants of the fire-ravaged home, as per the City of North Bend.
The Fire Department has since extended their deepest condolences to the family of Kayla Pagent, with a poignant reminder to the community about the importance of fire safety, especially with regard to open flames which, as witnessed in this calamity, hold the potential to not just destroy homes but steal away the irreplaceable breath of life, Chief Brown said in a statement mournfully acknowledging the loss while underscoring the critical need for vigilance against such preventable tragedies. Residents seeking further information or fire safety tips are encouraged to reach out to Chief Brown directly at the provided contact number.
