BEND, Ore. -- Authorities are looking for the cause of an attic fire Thursday afternoon that caused nearly $650,000 damage to a home under construction in southeast Bend.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews responded to a reported structure fire in the 20000 block of SE Greenmont Drive, off 15th Street, just after 4 p.m. The Alfalfa Fire District sent a water tender to aid in the response. 

Firefighters arrived and began tackling the blaze within five minutes after the initial dispatch. No one was home at the time of the fire, due to the house being under construction. There were no injuries reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Losses were estimated at $637,493 for both the structure and contents.

Fire officials noted that attic fires can develop unnoticed, because they often begin in areas that are not regularly occupied.

Smoke alarms on every level of the house and in every bedroom can provide early warning of a fire, they said, urging homeowners to test smoke alarms monthly and change batteries as needed.