CAMAS VALLEY, Ore. – A 76-year-old man from Douglas County tragically lost his life in a house fire Wednesday evening, officials confirmed.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) reported that multiple fire agencies were dispatched shortly before 9:30 p.m. on March 5 to a residence located in the 300 block of Holmes Creek Road. According to dispatch reports, callers indicated that an individual confined to a wheelchair was still inside the burning home. Witnesses made several attempts to rescue the man, but efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.
Firefighters arrived at the scene and found the deceased victim inside the home. Authorities later identified the man as Richard Wayne Bemiller.
Two individuals were evaluated for injuries, though it is unclear at this time whether they were directly involved in the rescue attempts. Local fire departments, including Camas Valley Fire Department, Tenmile Fire Department, Central Douglas Fire and Rescue, and Lookingglass Fire Department, responded alongside Winston Police Department, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, REACH Air Medical Services, and Douglas Electric Cooperative.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire, with sheriff’s deputies noting that the investigation is ongoing.
This devastating incident has left the community in mourning, and local authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the blaze.