NW Bend apartment fire brings evacuations; cause traced to charging lithium e-bike battery

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A northwest Bend apartment complex was evacuated Thursday night due to a small but smoky fire that was quickly put out and traced to a charging lithium e-bike battery.

Numerous Bend Fire and Rescue engine crews and Bend Police responded around 9:45 p.m. to the fire in a three-story apartment building off Newport Avenue in the 1400 block of Northwest Eighth Street, officials said.

Bend Deputy Fire Marshal said the fire caused about $5,000 in damage, mainly due to smoke.

"The cause was a lithium e-bike battery that was left plugged in and charging," Kettering told KTVZ News.

"We recommend not charging batteries inside the home whenever possible, and unplugging them when the charge is complete or before leaving the home."

Initial reports from several 911 callers said there had been an explosion of some type, so a full structure fire response was initiated, the fire official said.

The fire was in a third-floor apartment at the south end of the building, Kettering said, and no one was home at the time. A total of six units were evacuated.