Bend, Ore. – UPDATE THIS MORNING: Bend fire investigators say yesterday’s record heat played a role in a NW Bend house fire. It was caused by the spontaneous combustion of WWII era smokeless gun powder that had been left on he back deck with no lid on it. The nearly 75 year old powder was breaking down and the owner was planning on throwing it away, but had not done so yet.
Fire investigators say the combination of the high temperatures yesterday and the nature of the material caused the powder to ignite and then spread.
Neighbors heard a loud boom around that time and that was when a large can of WD40 near the gun powder caught on fire.
The damage was limited to the attic area of the garage and the total loss was estimated at $100,000 for the building and the things inside.
It was reported at around 8:30 p.m. at a single-story home at 1324 NW Davenport Avenue.
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