Fire caused by improper disposal of woodstove ashes heavily damages NE Bend home; 2 pets perish, dog survives

(Update: Relative of resident revises pet info, says two perished, one survived)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A fire traced to improper disposal of woodstove ashes heavily damaged a northeast Bend home Thursday afternoon, with losses estimated at $275,000, a fire official said.

A relative of a resident of the home later informed NewsChannel 21 that a dog and cat died in the fire and only one dog was found in good health.

A man called 911 around 2:45 p.m. to report seeing smoke and flames coming from a home he was housesitting for residents on vacation, in the 2900 block of NE Rock Chuck Drive, Bend Fire & Rescue Fire Inspector Melissa Steele said.

Crews arrived to find the two-story home engulfed in flames, with smoke coming from the living room and second-story windows, Steele said.

After the fire was quickly extinguished, in about 20 minutes, a search turned up no human occupants.

An investigation found the fire appeared to be accidental and was caused by improperly discarded ashes from a wood-burning stove. Steele said they were placed in a plastic bucket and left in the home, near the woodstove.

The blaze caused extensive fire and smoke damage to the home’s interior, with losses estimated at $200,000 to the structure and $75,000 in contents.

"Bend Fire & Rescue would like to share a reminder that hot or cold ashes from a woodstove should always be placed in a metal container with a lid and moved to the outside of the home, away from any combustible material," Steele said in a news release.