SW Bend resident awakens to crackle and glow, flees with dog from $100,000 house fire caused by discarded cigarette

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A southwest Bend resident awakened to the sound of crackling, saw an orange glow outside and escaped with her dog from a house fire early Monday that caused $100,000 damage and officials traced to improper disposal of a cigarette in a planter on the back patio the previous night.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews responded just before 2 a.m. to a 911 call from the occupant reporting the house fire on Cherrywood Lane in the Woodriver Village neighborhood, Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said.

The first crews to arrive found a fire in the attic had vented through the roof, Derlacki said. Crews extinguished the attic fire, keeping it from spreading to the home’s living area.

The fire was traced to a cigarette discarded into a flower planter against the house Sunday night, Derlacki said. The dry potting soil and wooden planter ignited, then spread to the home’s exterior before getting into the attic.

Because the flames and smoke were confined to the attic, the home’s smoke alarms did not activate, Derlacki said.

Fire damage totaled about $100,000 to the home and contents. Crews had to pulled down most of the home’s ceiling and insulation to ensure the blaze was completely out.

“Most of the occupants’ belongings were spared fire damage, though, and crews assisted in removing as much as they could, to prevent further damage,” Derlacki said in a news release. He noted that the occupant has renters’ insurance, while the Red Cross was called in to provide the resident with somewhere to stay for a couple of nights.

"As always, Bend Fire & Rescue reminds everyone to be safe with all types of smoking materials, both when in use and after," Derlacki said. "Ensuring cigarettes and all smoking materials are properly disposed of is a simple way to prevent these fires.

"Place cigarette butts and ash into non-combustible containers when done. Empty those containers regularly. Don’t dispose of any smoking materials, including knocking off the end of a cigarette, into dry ground cover such as bark mulch or pine needles," he added.

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