Two residents in northwest Bend were able to escape safely from fire after being alerted by smoke alarms in their home. According to Bend Fire & Rescue, the incident happened Saturday evening at at 295 NW Linster Place. The fire broke out around 9:50pm and the couple had only been asleep for about one hour. They heard the smoke alarms and discovered heavy smoke coming from their flue’s wood burning stove.
The couple had made a fire in the woodstove a few hours previously before going to bed, like they often have done in the past. Fire crews arrived on scene within minutes and were able to contain the fire to the flue and prevent further spread. The cause of the fire appears to have originated inside the closed flue, directly above the woodstove, where the radiant heat ignited surrounding insulation.
Because of the home’s working smoke alarms, the couple was alerted, given ample time to grab their pets and a few belongings and escape unharmed. Bend Fire would like to remind everyone that smoke alarms safe lives, as we have seen tonight. With extremely cold temperatures lately, woodstoves and fireplaces have been running nonstop in homes. Take the time to check your smoke alarms and ensure they are working properly. If you need assistance with your alarms, please contact Bend Fire & Rescue at 541-322-6300, or go to our website and submit a request. The damage is estimated at $10,000-$15,000.
