Bend, OR. — An early-morning garage fire caused significant damage to a Bend home Friday after an electrical fault ignited wiring near the home’s grounding rod, according to Bend Fire & Rescue.
At 5:06 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026, a 911 caller reported heavy smoke inside his home and garage, with flames visible near the electrical panel. Fire crews responded to a residence in the Starwood subdivision at 20758 Lyra Drive, off Tumalo Road.
First-arriving units found an active fire in a corner of the garage with extension into the attic space above. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze, limiting damage primarily to the garage and attic area.
Officials estimated structural damage at approximately $35,000, with an additional $5,000 in damage to contents stored in the garage. The interior of the residence sustained minor smoke and water damage and remains structurally intact. However, the home is currently uninhabitable due to a loss of electrical power. Water service to the residence was shut off as a precaution to prevent frozen or burst pipes during cold temperatures.
The occupants were able to safely exit the home and declined assistance from the American Red Cross.
Investigators determined the cause of the fire was an electrical fault known as a “floating neutral” in the wiring adjacent to the grounding rod. This condition can create dangerous voltage imbalances within a home’s electrical system, potentially causing breakers to trip and increasing the risk of fire. Fire officials emphasized that this type of issue requires immediate evaluation and repair by a licensed electrician.
Fire officials also used the incident to remind residents about the importance of maintaining working smoke alarms. In this case, the home’s smoke alarms did not activate despite smoke inside the residence. A young child woke up and alerted a parent, who noticed the smell of smoke and called 911.
The smoke alarms were found to be more than 10 years old. Fire officials noted that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have a recommended lifespan of 10 years, after which sensors can degrade and become unreliable—even if the alarm still chirps or beeps.
Residents are encouraged to regularly test alarms and replace units older than 10 years to help ensure early warning in the event of a fire.
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