photo credit: Bend Fire

A garage fire erupted early Sunday on NW Crossing Drive in Bend, quickly spreading into one of five attached townhomes. Fire crews arrived to find flames already inside the residence, prompting a rapid response to contain the blaze. While one neighboring unit suffered minor smoke and soot damage, four of the five townhomes remain habitable. The origin residence sustained heavy damage, forcing the homeowner to seek alternative shelter, though they declined Red Cross assistance. Estimated losses include $500,000 to the structure, $75,000 in contents, and $8,000 to a vehicle outside. Fire investigators are still working to determine the cause.