October 12, 2026 3:50 a.m. 

One fatality has been confirmed following a home fire in Yoncalla on Sunday morning.

Fire Chief Brian Burke of North Douglas County Fire and EMS said crews responded to the residence in the 100 block of Birch Street just after 10:00 a.m. Burke said firefighters found the home heavily involved in fire and began defensive firefighting operations. The name of the deceased is not being released at this time. No other injuries were reported.

Burke said the estimated property loss is $118,500. There was no damage to neighboring properties. The American Red Cross and Adapt Integrated Health Care provided help to the residents displaced by the fire.

NDCF & EMS was assisted by the Oakland Fire Department, Sutherlin Fire Department, Fair Oaks Fire Department, Umpqua Valley Ambulance and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Douglas Electric Cooperative staff also responded to assist with electrical hazards.

Burke said the agency thanked Zac Botner of Tal Botner Excavation for his assistance at the scene. Botner brought equipment and provided critical debris removal support, substantially reducing the time fire crews needed to access and fully extinguish the remaining fire. Burke said Botner’s skill and equipment support were invaluable to fire suppression efforts and other critical needs at the scene.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal.