Fire hits NE Bend duplex; residents escape

(Update: Adding fire official comment, details)

A fire tore through a northeast Bend duplex Saturday afternoon, causing more than $200,000 damage, but the residents and their pets escaped, despite a lack of working smoke alarms, fire officials said.

Bend Fire Department crews responded around 1:15 p.m. to the reported fire in a duplex at 1777 NE Tucson Way, Fire Inspector Steve Stenkamp said.

The first unit to arrive reported a heavy fire at the end of one of the units. Stenkamp said crews were able to quickly knock down the fire, preventing damage to the adjoining unit.

“The occupants were in their back bedroom, and they came out in the hallway and noticed a large amount of fire on the end of the building and got out and called 911,” Stenkamp told NewsChannel 21 on the scene.

The residents suffered some smoke inhalation and singed hair but were not seriously injured, he said.

The residents’ three pets also survived the fire and were reunited with their owners. The fire also heavily damaged a car parked next to the duplex.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. Losses were estimated at $150,000 to the structure and $50,000 to contents, as well as the $7,500 vehicle.

American Red Cross disaster responders also were called in to help the two adults and pets with their immediate basic needs, the organization said.

A total of 17 fire personnel, including three engines and a ladder truck, were called out on the blaze. Bend Police, Cascade Natural Gas and Central Electric Cooperative provided mutual-air support at the scene.

Stenkamp said the Bend Fire Department wants to remind residents to check and make sure you have working smoke alarms.