Fire destroys detached garage east of Bend

A fire of undetermined origin destroyed a three-car garage east of Bend Tuesday morning, officials said.

Bend firefighters responded around 6:40 a.m. to the reported structure fire in the 22400 block of Rickard Road, Battalion Chief Dave Howe said. Crews arrived to find the three-car garage ablaze.

The garage was being used for storage and as a hay barn, Howe said, with no vehicles or animals inside.

The home on the property was about 75 feet away and was not threatened by the flames, he added.

Due to the extent of involvement, crews fought the fire from a defensive positio to ensure it did not spread. A total of 17 personnel responded with three engines, a water tender and a medic unit.

The cause of the fire could not be determined, due to the extent of damage, Howe said.

The building, worth about $25,000, was a total loss, as were contents worth about $25,000. Both were insured, Howe said.