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Published 5:00 am Wednesday, January 29, 2025

The Pendleton Fire and Ambulance Department and Pilot Rock Rural Fire Protection District battle a house fire Jan. 21, 2025, at Northeast Riverside Avenue in Pendleton.

Fire destroys home, displacing 3 residents

PENDLETON — A fire Jan. 21 in Pendleton destroyed a home and displaced three people.

The Pendleton Fire and Ambulance Department and the Pilot Rock Rural Fire Protection District responded around 7:30 a.m. to the house fire at 321 NE Riverside Ave.

Pendleton Fire Chief Tony Pierotti said there was a heavy blaze in the attic that caused a partial roof collapse and damage to the basement.

The house will be a total loss, he said.

The three people who lived at the home have been displaced but found a place to stay, Pierotti said.

No residents, pets or firefighters were injured in the fire, and no other homes or structures were threatened.

“We kept the fire to the house, which is good because no exposures got damaged at all,” Pierotti said. “For us it’s a win when no one gets hurt and we can keep the fire to the building’s origin.”

Pierotti said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Pierotti expressed gratitude to the Pilot Rock fire district for working with his department to help keep the community safe.

Man’s body found in river in Baker City

BAKER CITY — Baker City police believe a man whose body was found in the frozen Powder River beneath the north end of the D Street bridge on the morning of Jan. 20 died from suicide.

Sgt. Wayne Chastain said there was no sign of a struggle or evidence of foul play in the death of Brian Kidd Kallio, 28.

Chastain said Kallio’s body was found about 11 a.m. on Jan. 20.

He said it appeared that Kallio intentionally went into the river the evening of Jan. 19.

Greg Baxter, Baker County district attorney, also said he “strongly believes” Kallio completed suicide.

Chastain said police during the investigation learned Kallio recently had discussed suicide.

Two Wallowa County residents die in crash

ANATONE, Wash. — Two Wallowa County residents died Jan. 17 in a single-vehicle crash 4 miles north of Asotin, Washington, the Washington State Patrol reported.

Rayford G. Guillory, 70, of Wallowa, died at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, while Diana R. Harvey, 65, of Lostine, died at the scene.

According to the WSP report, the vehicle was northbound on state Highway 129 near milepost 21 — 21 miles north of the Oregon state line — when it left the road and rolled. The Washington State Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.

It was not known which of the deceased was the driver, WSP reported. Neither victim was wearing a seat belt.

The Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office notified next of kin.

Fire destroys house near Athena

ATHENA — A fire on the evening of Jan. 17 destroyed a home near Athena.

East Umatilla Fire & Rescue reported it received a callout at 5:40 p.m. for a house fire at Gerking Flat Road and Highway 334, about a mile west of Athena.

Firefighters arrived and found the home fully engulfed in flames.

The fire district reported it called for more help and asked for aid from the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department and Pendleton Fire Department.

East Umatilla Fire sent four water tenders, two fire engines, a ladder truck and an ambulance, according to the report, while Pendleton sent a fire engine and Umatilla Tribal Fire sent an engine and a command vehicle.

Nearby farmers responded with their water tenders to join the effort.

This structure was a total loss, according to East Umatilla Fire & Rescue.

There were no injuries, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

— East Oregonian

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