Fire heavily damaged a rural home Friday morning, June 3, in the 5000 block of South Santiam Highway near Lebanon.
According to the Lebanon Fire District, crews arrived to find the one-and-a-half-story home, nearly fully engulfed in flames. When the incident commander arrived, he declared the fire a defensive fire attack due to the crews being hampered by live powerlines on the ground.
Personnel were able to reset the blaze with the defensive attack and found another door allowing firefighters to enter safely and begin offensive suppression efforts.
Because of the location and the lack of nearby fire hydrants, the incident commander called for an additional water tender for water supply as well as the Oregon Department of Transportation for traffic control.
Due to the construction type, firefighters chased the fire around in knee walls and an attic space before completely extinguishing it. The IC called the fire under control after approximately 90 minutes. Crews remained on scene for several hours for salvage and overhaul. Additional resources from Sweet Home Fire District arrived and helped the already exhausted crews overhaul of the building.
No residents were at home but did arrive shortly after the blaze broke out and was reported to 911. Firefighters evaluated one of its residents for smoke inhalation and Albany Fire Department transported the patient to a local area hospital for further evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries. A Lebanon firefighter from Lebanon Fire was also transported with non-life-threatening injuries for evaluation.
The home’s residents reported that four dogs were in the home when the blaze broke out and were unable to escape. Firefighters were able to retrieve three but unfortunately, they had succumbed to smoke and heat.
The Lebanon Fire District responded to the blaze with 25 personnel on one engine, one ladder truck, two ALS ambulances, two water tenders, one heavy rescue and a firefighter rehab unit.
Three chief officers responded in their district vehicles as well as the Deputy Fire Marshal with the Lebanon Fire Investigation Team, made up of career and volunteer firefighters with Lebanon Police Department officers.
The Albany and Sweet Home departments, as well as ODOT, assisted at the scene and covered the city during the incident.