March 11, 2025 3:20 p.m. 

One individual died in a structure fire in Winston on Tuesday morning.

A release from Central Douglas Fire & Rescue said crews were dispatched to the fire on Northeast Darrell Avenue just after 7:15 a.m. Neighbors had reported that the home was full of smoke, and flames could be seen through a window.

The initial crew arrived to find smoke from the eaves and blackened windows. After accessing the home, crews found the smoke level on the floor and a fire in the living room. While performing a search, CDF&R firefighters found one individual in the living room and removed the victim from the house. Crews got a quick knockdown of the fire, which was limited to the living room area. However, the remainder of the home suffered heat and smoke damage.

The release said the Winston Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office medical examiner identified the victim through interviews with the homeowners. The homeowners were at work at the time of the fire. The victim was a friend who had been staying at the residence for the past few weeks. Next of kin was notified and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The victim’s name was not released.

CDF&R responded to the fire with four pieces of fire equipment and three command units, totaling 15 paid and volunteer personnel. In addition to the agencies already mentioned, crews at the scene were also assisted by Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Pacific Power and Avista Gas. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted with investigating the cause of the fire and its origin.