Bend Fire and Rescue responded to a garage fire Friday on River Bend Drive in the Deschutes River Woods area. First arriving crews found a working fire on the back side of the garage that was beginning to extend toward the residence. The occupant had evacuated the home with her dog and was a safe distance from structures.
Crews were able to knock down the fire quickly, limiting damage to the residence to some charring on the exterior porch railing. The garage sustained moderate fire damage, with radiant heat and smoke damage to the contents of the garage. A lean-to structure attached to the back of the garage was a complete loss.
Upon investigation, it was found that ashes and char from a previous debris burn had been placed into a plastic bag and set at the edge of the lean-to structure, which was used to store firewood. Ashes can remain hot for several days, particularly if there are larger pieces present within the ash.
Bend Fire & Rescue recommends that ash, whether from a debris burn, the fireplace, or the woodstove, be placed into a metal container with a lid (never a paper or plastic bag) and put outdoors onto a non-combustible surface such as concrete, metal, or bare dirt. Fill the bucket with water, and wait at least 24-48 hours before disposing of the material. For more home fire safety information, visit Informational Videos and Virtual Tours | City of Bend.
