BREAKING OVERNIGHT: Bend family displaced after late Tuesday garage fire nearly reaches inside home

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A garage fire linked to improperly disposed woodstove ashes resulted in $50,000 in damage to a southeast Bend home Tuesday night. Bend Fire & Rescue responded to the blaze in the 700 block of Southeast Douglas St. just before 11:00 p.m. on March 10th.

The family was alerted to the fire by working smoke alarms and evacuated safely before calling 9-1-1. Fire crews contained the flames primarily to the single-car garage, though the American Red Cross was called to assist the family because the house is currently unsafe to live in.

Investigators determined the fire started when woodstove ashes were placed into a trash container inside the garage. The flames spread to the contents of the garage and had begun to enter the main house before firefighters extinguished the blaze.

The property damage is estimated at $50,000 for the building and its contents. Both the owners and the renters of the home have insurance to assist with the rebuilding process.

The effectiveness of the smoke alarms followed a proactive safety check; in late 2025, Bend Fire & Rescue assisted the occupants in checking their alarms to ensure they were working properly.

Bend Fire & Rescue recommend letting ashes cool inside a wood-burning appliance for two to three days before removal. Once removed, the ashes should be placed in a non-combustible container, such as a sturdy metal bucket with a metal lid.

The container should be kept at least 10 feet away from any combustible materials until the ashes are completely cool. This process can take several days or weeks. Ashes can remain hot enough to ignite a fire for four to seven days after being removed from a woodstove, even if they do not feel hot to the touch.

Bend Fire & Rescue provides free assistance for residents who need help checking or installing smoke alarms. Last year, the department helped families install 1,500 alarms. Residents can request help by calling 541-322-6386, while those outside the Bend area can contact their local fire department or the Central/Eastern Oregon Chapter of the Red Cross at 541-382-2142.