BEND, Ore. -- A mobile home fire in northeast Bend Sunday night caused about $50,000 damage and cost the lives of two cats, though smoke alarms alerted the resident, who was able to escape, an official said.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews responded shortly before 9 p.m. after a resident called 911 to report a fire in their home at Rock Arbor Villa Mobile Home Park off Northeast Purcell Boulevard, Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said.

Firefighters arrived to find the mobile home engulfed in flames that extended to the roof. Crews knocked down the fire within minutes, keeping it from spreading to other homes.

Smoke alarms alerted the home’s sole resident, who was able to safely evacuate. However, two cats died in the fire.

The estimated loss to the home and its contents was $50,000. The Red Cross was called in to assist the resident with housing and resources.

Investigators determined the fire started behind a wall where the fireplace flue, original to the home built in 1974, was improperly connected. When a fire was lit in the fireplace, heat and flames entered the wall and ignited a fire, Derlacki said.

"Bend Fire & Rescue reminds residents that working smoke alarms save lives.," Derlacki said in a news release. Test your alarms to make sure they work. Learn more at bendoregon.gov/alarm-info.

He also urged residents to remember to have stoves and furnaces serviced and inspected before using them for the season. Hot exhaust can enter walls through loose connections. Debris can accumulate in the flue during months without use. Regular cleaning and maintenance also help prevent fires caused by creosote or ash buildup.