Sean C. Morgan
Investigators have concluded that a fire that destroyed a home on 14th Avenue on Oct. 18 most likely rekindled from a smaller fire earlier that morning.
The Linn-Benton Fire Investigation team determined last week that the origin of the fire most likely was at the location of two bags that had been filled with rags soaked in linseed oil that spontaneously combusted, said Sweet Home Fire Chief Dave Barringer.
The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District responded to 961 14th Ave. twice that morning. At 2:05 a.m., firefighters responded and found the vacant home filled with smoke.
Lights were on and firefighters found a fan blowing between the garage and the north end of the house.
“When we went in, our firefighters found those (linseed oil-soaked rags in two bags) were the only things on fire,” Barringer said. The fan was blowing into the garage, circulating air to dry doors that had been painted earlier. The fan circulated smoke throughout the home.
Firefighters cut a hole into the garage door and put out the fire in the two bags. They separated the rags and spread them out on the concrete floor.
Crew members checked for hot spots using a thermal imager and by feeling the wall with their hands, Barringer said. “It’s a gloves off, feeling the wall all the way up and all the way down.”
Finding none, firefighters continued to remain on the scene until 4:30 a.m.
“We secured the structure to the best of our ability and left,” he said.
Natural gas service had been shut off the previous day, and electricity was shut off following the fire.
Firefighters responded back to the address at 6:47 a.m. to find the north end of the home and the garage in flames.
Firefighters put out the second fire and then turned the investigation over to the Linn-Benton Fire Investigation Team, Barringer said.
Sweet Home Police Department opened a case as well and then closed it, based on the Investigation Team’s findings.
The Investigation Team determined the second fire started at the location of the two bags, which had been removed, Barringer said. “We missed an ember. We missed something. We don’t want to miss anything.”
Linseed oil, often used to finish wood, is a fire hazard, Barringer said. Oil-soaked rags dry through an oxidation process, and enough rags soaked in linseed oil can develop enough heat to ignite.
Two men had been working inside the home on behalf of the owners, Garry F. and Melanie Lech of Victoria, B.C., Canada.
The fire damaged two closely neighboring homes, to the east and northeast on 15th Avenue, and a car. To the northeast, Barringer said, the heat melted aluminum siding.
Firefighters pulled the siding from the home to the east and put out fire in the eaves, saving the structure, he said.