DRW porch fire traced to fireplace ashes

A fire that broke out on the porch of a home in Deschutes River Woods south of Bend Sunday afternoon was caused by a plastic bucket of fireplace ashes, officials said, but was mostly stopped by residents using fire extinguishers and throwing snow on the outside walls.

Firefighters responded around 3:30 p.m. to the reported structure fire in the 59000 block of Navajo Circle, said Bend Fire Inspector Steve Stenkamp.

The residents called 911 first, then tried to put out the blaze with the extinguishers and snow, Stenkamp said. They had most of the fire out when the first engine arrived.

Damages were estimated at $2,500, limited to the exterior siding on the porch.

The residents had left a plastic bucket of fireplace ashes on their porch earlier in the day, the fire inspector said.

The Bend Fire Department reminded residents to put their fireplace ashes in a metal container stored away from combustible material.

Other fireplace/woodstove safety tips can be found at http://www.bendoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=1034