Attic fire causes $40,000 damage to SW Bend home

An attic fire in a southwest Bend home early Wednesday caused about $20,000 damage before it was put out by firefighters, officials said.

Bend Fire Department crews responded around 2 a.m. to the reported house fire in the 61000 block of Deer Valley Drive, Battalion Chief Jeff Blake said.

They arrived to find a fire burning in the attic of the one-story house, with smoke and flames just starting to breach the roofing material, Blake said. The crews, totaling 15 personnel, quickly put out the fire and began salvage and overhaul operations.

The occupants and neighbors had called Deschutes County 911 dispatchers and the residents safely evacuated the home, which has working smoke alarms, before crews arrived, Blake noted.

Losses were estimated at $20,000 to the structure and $20,000 to its contents. Blake said the contents sustained smoke damage, but much of the structure remained.

The American Red Cross sent disaster responders to help the four affected adults and their pets with resources to meet immediate basic needs, such as temporary housing, food, clothing, comfort kits with toiletry items and information about other resources.