Fire damages home northwest of Redmond

A report of smoke Monday night led firefighters to a home northwest of Redmond where a fire in an exterior wall and concealed space caused an estimated $72,000 damage, officials said.

The incident originally was reported around 8:20 p.m. as smoke in the area of Tetherow Bridge, one of numerous smoke reports received by Central Oregon agencies as thunderstorms moved through the area.

Fire crews were unable to find the smoke source until the call was upgraded to a structure fire at 5335 NW Zamia Avenue, near Tetherow Road and the Deschutes River, said Redmond Fire Marshal Traci Cooper.

Crews arrived to find smoke coming from the two-story home. They were able to get in through a garage door and located the fire burning in the exterior wall and concealed space above the second floor, Cooper said.

No one was home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation, Cooper said.

Losses were estimated at $70,000 to the structure and $2,000 to the contents.

Mutual aid assistance was provided by Bend and Crook County fire agencies and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.