Scott Swanson
Sweet Home firefighters responded last week to two fires in the area.
The first, near the corner of 38th Avenue and Long Street, broke out Wednesday morning, Feb. 17, in a detached garage on a lot where a previous blaze had destroyed most of the house on Aug. 25, 2020.
“It was the same structure where there was the previous fire,” said Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District Chief Dave Barringer. He said firefighters got the first call at 10:29 a.m.
“It started as a small, miscellaneous fire, then was upgraded to a structure fire,” Barringer said.
Two engines responded but only one was used to fight the blaze, which was put down quickly, he said. “I would guess it was out within five minutes.”
The fire started outside the garage, but penetrated the wall and got into the structure.
Nine firefighters assisted in putting it out.
Barringer said it was difficult to estimate a damage figure, “because really, the structure had zero value as far as we’re concerned.” The estimated damage from the fire in late August was nearly $350,000 for the house and its contents.
Barringer said police are still investigating the Feb. 17 incident.
Firefighters responded the following morning to a trailer fire at 26947 Rowell Hill Road.
Barringer said a trailer parked on the property was fully involved when Battalion Chief Shannon Pettner exited her vehicle after the call came in at 10:41 a.m. on Feb. 18.
Access was difficult for firefighters, due to the condition of the property, he said.
The fire destroyed the trailer and damaged a barn he said. A dog perished in the blaze.
Barringer said investigators are “pretty sure” it was an electrical fire.
Information on property owners in both cases was not available, Barringer said.