Meat smoker’s heat sparks NE Bend house fire

Heat from a meat smoker used on the night of the Fourth ignited the side of a northeast Bend home’s garage Thursday morning, sparking a fire that caused about $30,000 damage, officials said.

Bend fire crews responded about 6:15 a.m. to the reported structure fire in the 1300 block of Northeast Hollinshead Drive, Battalion Chief Dave Howe said.

They arrived to find a fire on the exterior of the home and smoke coming from the garage, Howe said heat from a meat smoker used Wednesday night ignited the side of the garage and the fire had reached into the attic.

About 16 firefighters were able to control the blaze within a half-hour. No injuries were reported.

Howe said the Bend Fire Department wants to remind residents that any heat source placed near a combustible surface can ignite those materials.

“Take care to maintain adequate space between anything that produces heat and anything that can burn,” he said.