The New Era - All about Sweet Home since 1929

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...