Woodstove flue fire heavily damages roof of NE Bend home, but three residents escape to safety
Barney Lerten
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A woodstove flue fire early Tuesday morning heavily damaged the wood shake roof of a northeast Bend home, but three occupants escaped without injury, an official said.
Bend Fire & Rescue crews were called out just after midnight to the reported structure fire in the 62500 block of Eagle Road, Deputy Fire Marshal Melissa Steele said.
One of three residents home at the time said they awakened to the smell of smoke, then heard smoke alarms and noticed a large orange glow outside, Steele said in a news release.
“Upon investigation, he discovered the roof — constructed of wood shake shingles —was on fire,” she said. “He quickly alerted the other two occupants, and all evacuated safely without injury.”
Firefighters arrived within minutes and had the fire completely out within a half-hour, the fire official said.
The fire was contained to the roof and did not extend into the interior of the home.
Steele said the fire began in the woodstove flue, which appeared to be original to the home. “Over time, radiant heat likely charred the wood shake shingles and eventually ignited the roofing materials,” she said.
She said the entire roof will need replacement with a fire-rated material such as asphalt shingles, composition, or metal.
However, Steele told KTVZ News, “The structure is inhabitable and roof repairs are already in the works. Red Cross assistance was not needed for the residents.”
The total loss amount is not yet known.
Bend Fire says home heating equipment, including woodstoves and fireplaces, is the leading cause of residential fires in Oregon, with about 450 such fires annually.
Before lighting your stove or fireplace, they recommend that you ensure your flue is clear of debris, and have your equipment inspected for possible failures.
For home heating safety tips, call Bend Fire & Rescue at 541-322-6300.