Fire officials have been warning us of the hazards of using bark mulch around our homes. The Bend Fire and Rescue previous warnings about bark fires became reality; this time in the middle of the night. Occupants of a home on Arrowhead Drive, near Tumalo, were alerted by smoke alarms around 3:30 Saturday morning and found smoke in the house. When firefighters arrived, they found that bark mulch that had been applied a week before was in contact with the outside of the house, and spontaneously ignited. The flames spread into the walls of the home. Total damage is estimated at $27,000. No injuries are reported. The fire department recommends gravel instead of bark.