Smoke alarm awakens NE Bend residents, who catch fire early, limiting damage; cause traced to woodstove ashes

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A smoke alarm awakened residents of a northeast Bend home early Wednesday morning, alerting them to a house fire that damaged a spare bedroom and was traced to woodstove ashes put in a combustible container outside the home the previous day.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched to the home on Northeast Harvey Lane after the fire was reported around 5 a.m. Fire Inspector/Investigator Jason Kamperman said.

The occupants went to see what the problem was, saw hazy smoke in the nearby kitchen and spare bedroom and called 911, he said. On further investigation, they noticed smoke coming from an exterior wall and flames as well from the exterior through a bedroom window.

The residents tried to put out the fire and Bend Fire crews arrived quickly and put out the remaining blaze, limiting it to the spare bedroom, Kamperman said.

The fire was determined to have been caused by ashes removed from a woodstove on Tuesday and placed in a combustible container on the home’s exterior, he said.

Because the smoke alarm awakened them, the fire was caught early and damage was limited, with no injuries, Kamperman said.

"When removing ashes from a wood stove always assume they are hot, having potential to ignite combustible materials," Kamperman wrote. "Always place ashes in a non-combustible, metal container, well away from other combustibles, and extinguish with water before disposing of cold ashes.

"Ashes can remain hot enough to ignite combustible materials for several days or longer, if not properly extinguished," he warned.

" Bend Fire & Rescue would also like to remind everyone to check for working smoke alarms in their homes. More information on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and assistance, can be found on the City of Bend Fire & Rescues website, under Community Programs."

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