Fire causes $375,000 damage to NE Bend home

(Update: Smoke alarm alerts residents; losses hit $375,000; cause under investigation)

Fire tore through a home in northeast Bend Monday afternoon, causing $375,000 damage — but thanks to a smoke alarm sounding, residents escaped without injury, fire officials said.

The fire was reported around 3:35 p.m. at a one-story home in the 2700 block of Northeast Hope Drive, across 27th Street from Mountain View High School.

Smoke and flames were coming from the roof at the back of the home when the first fire crews arrived, Bend Fire Battalion Chief Dave Howe said.

They were able to contain the fire to the home’s living quarters and kept flames out of the garage, but the contents were heavily damaged.

Occupants were alerted by the smoke alarm and able to escape, Howe said, and were being assisted by neighbors. The American Red Cross also was advised and sent a disaster response team.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. Losses were estimated at $250,000 to the structure, worth $300,000, and $125,000 in losses to the contents, valued at $150,000. The homeowners had renters’ insurance, Howe said.

“The Bend Fire Department reminds the community that if you rent, your landlord’s liability insurance does NOT extend to your belongings, and renter’s insurance is both inexpensive and can save you countless hours of trouble and a lot of money, in the event of a fire,” Howe wrote in a news release.

“Also, this fire grew quickly, so the smoke alarm activation was critical in saving the lives of the occupants,” he added.