Officials believe an early-morning fire Tuesday at a hotel under construction in Redmond was likely the result of mechanical failure.
Around 1:40 a.m., Deschutes County emergency dispatch began receiving reports that flames were shooting from the roof of the Hampton Inn off U.S. Highway 97 near the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center. Several people said an explosion was heard first.
Crews with Redmond Fire & Rescue arrived to find an active fire near the top of the four-story building. Because no people were reported to be inside the building, firefighters took a defensive approach, directing water guns from the apparatuses, according to Jeff Puller, Redmond deputy chief .