Eleven displaced after lithium batteries cause two separate Portland fires

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Portland fire officials are urging caution after lithium ion batteries reportedly caused two structure fires and displaced multiple residents Thursday. The first incident occurred just before 7 a.m. in a Southwest Portland home and the second happened just before midnight in a Southeast Portland apartment complex. Officials say both fires caused extensive damage and displaced eleven residents total. According to Portland Fire and Rescue, the fires were the result of a thermal runway in the batteries, which happens when an encased battery cell heats up faster than it can cool down. This can result in high heat, explosions and fires. Officials added that these particular fires burn hot and fast and can emit large amounts of toxic smoke. PF&R also responded to two similar incidents within the last four months involving e-scooters going into thermal runaway, causing smoke and water damage to nearby buildings.
KOIN-TV CBS 6 Portland

Eugene MakerSpace ’heartbroken’ after fire destroys community shop

PHOTOS: Eugene Springfield Fire received a report of a 2nd alarm commercial structure fire in West Eugene. Just after 3 a.m. on Sunday, September 15, a Eugene Police officer was flagged down by an individual who reported a fire in the 600 block of McKinley Street. Eugene MakerSpace informed KEZI 9 News that they were the business impacted by the fire, and it destroyed their community shop. In a press release, MakerSpace said "most of the shop and everything in it has been destroyed." Crews arrived to find heavy fire from the MakerSpace building. Less than 10 minutes after the first units arrived, a second alarm was called. The fire was put under control, and the cause is under investigation.
KEZI-TV ABC 9 Eugene

Bachelor Complex experiences fire growth

Firefighters continued to construct firelines, conduct strategic firing operations, and mop up on the Bachelor Complex, Flat Top, and Firestone Fires. The Bachelor Complex did have an increase in acreage due to some moderate fire activity and burnout operations near Sheridan Mountain and Road 4528 and Lolo Butte near Road 4030 to secure the eastern flank of the Little Lava Fire. The Lucky Butte Fire near the Cascade crest continues to be monitored and has not experienced any significant growth. Mop up continues on the Backside and 911 Fires. On the Flat Top Fire, firefighters were able to perform strategic firing operations to help secure fireline along the western flank south of Willow Butte and the northeast corner from FSR 410 towards FSR 470 and FSR 18.
KVAL-TV CBS 13 Eugene

VIDEO: Business, house fires keep fire crews busy in Josephine County

PHOTOS: Fire crews in Josephine County were busy overnight responding to a business on fire in Grants Pass and a house that caught fire in Sunny Valley. According to Grants Pass Fire, just after midnight Thursday morning firefighters arrived at a commercial structure fire on Rogue River Highway. Due to fire activity, more resources were called in and crews conducted an aggressive attack. Officials say firefighters were able to get the fire, which broke out in the main shop of LMS Motorsports, contained in just under an hour. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, however, Rogue River Highway and Fruitdale Driver were closed to traffic for roughly five hours overnight. While crews were onsite battling the business fire, a house fire just off I-5 in Sunny Valley was reported.
KOBI-TV NBC 5 Medford

Douglas County forestry officials decrease restrictions as firefighting conditions improve

With occasional rain and decreasing temperatures assisting firefighting efforts, officials with the Douglas Forest Protective Association are loosening restrictions on what activities are allowed in the county’s forested areas. According to the DFPA, predicted rain, decreasing temperatures, and an increase in relative humidity have reduced fire danger levels throughout forests in Douglas County. These conditions have also helped firefighters suppress the Devil’s Knob and Milepost 98 fires, which are 15% and 27% contained respectively. In light of the new conditions, the DFPA is relaxing public use restrictions on lands managed by the association. The DFPA stressed that fire season is still in effect and several wildfires are still burning across Oregon.
KEZI-TV ABC 9 Eugene