Attic fire causes $15K damage to SE Bend home

An electrical fire in the attic caused more than $15,000 damage to a southeast Bend home Monday night, officials said.

The fire was reported around 8:30 p.m. in the 21000 block of Reed Market Road, Bend Fire Capt. Mike King said.

Crews arrived to find light smoke coming from the attic gable vent and after extensive investigation found a small fire smoldering in the attic, King said.

Firefighters used thermal imaging cameras to locate the fire and reached by pulling ceiling in the area to extinguish it. The fire involved about 10 square feet of ceiling joists and insulation.

King said in a news release the “cause was clearly electrical, as the wires in the area were melted through and the burn pattern on the ceiling joists were consistent with the location of the fire.”

The resident also told investigators of a recent flurry of breaker “trips” in the involved circuit.

King said he told the homeowner it was not habitable, and he already had made other arrangements for where to stay.

Firefighters were able to isolate and turn on the furnace only, to keep the home heated during the cold weather, he added.