Investigators: Natural gas leak caused NE Bend garage blast, fire

An explosion and fire in the garage of a northeast Bend home early Tuesday morning was ignited by a natural gas leak caused by a vehicle being parked too far forward in the garage and bending the gas line, investigators said.

Bend Fire Department crews responded around 12:30 a.m. to the reported explosion and subsequent fire in the attached garage of a home in the 62000 block of Larkview Road, just west of Eagle Road, Battalion Chief Jeff Blake said.

Arriving crews found the garage ablaze and quickly knocked down the fire, limiting damage to the garage, Blake said.

Deputy Fire Marshal Cindy Kettering said in an update Tuesday afternoon that investigators determined a vehicle parked in the garage Monday evening was parked too far forward, allowing the bumper to come in contact with a natural gas line supplying the furnace and water heater.

“The gas line was bent forward, causing a crack in the line near the threaded fittings,” Kettering wrote.

“Natural gas then filled the garage until it reached an ignitable concentration and reached an ignition source, most likely the pilot light for either the furcace or the water heater, causing the explosion and fire,” she said.

Losses totaled $100,000 to the structure, $35,000 to the vehicle and $50,000 worth of contents.

A total of 15 firefighters responded, with three engines and a ladder truck, as well as a medic unit. Mutual-aid support was provided by Bend police, Cascade Natural Gas, Central Electric Cooperative and the American Red Cross.

The Red Cross sent disaster responders early Tuesday to assist the adult and child affected by the fire, the organization said. They provided resources to meet their immediate basic needs.