Kitchen fire damages SW Bend home

A kitchen fire caused about $5,000 damage at a southwest Bend home Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Crews were called to the reported fire shortly before 5 p.m. in the 100 block of Southwest McKinley Avenue, Bend Fire Battalion Chief Dave Howe said.

Crews arrived to find a fire on the stove, extending into the cabinets, Howe said. They quickly put out the fire and overhauled the area to make sure there was no further extension, he said.

The fire caused minor damage to the home, with some smoke throughout. Losses were estimated at $5,000 to the structure and $100 worth of contents.

Howe said the fire began on the stove top, as a container of cooking oil overheated and the vapors ignited.

The resident covered the burning oil with a lid to extinguish the fire, but it already had extended into the upper cabinet.

Howe recommended residents cover a stove top fire with a lid, and never use water on an oil fire.

“In this case, the owner did everything right — covered the fire, called 911 and exited the house,” he said.