Two injured and three dogs killed in Grants Pass fire

VIDEO: An early morning fire claiming the lives of several dogs in Josephine County. Three Dogs were killed and two people were sent to the hospital after firefighters responded to the Grants Pass fire early Monday morning. Rural Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire, and AMR Josephine County all responded to reports of a structure fire in the 1000 block of Plum Tree Lane in Grants Pass. When crews arrived on scene just after 2am, one trailer was fully engulfed in flames. A fourth dog was taken into custody by firefighters and sent to animal control. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office has taken over the investigation into what caused the fire. Austn Prince, Rural Metro Fire Operations Chief, says, “We kind of knew when the address was given where we were going because we’ve been there a number of times.
KOBI-TV NBC 5 Medford

State fire marshal wants Oregonians to do more to protect their homes from wildfires

Oregonians are being asked to create more defensible space around their homes, with vegetation modified in that space to reduce wildfire threat and help firefighters defend the house. Climate change is expected to increase both the frequency and intensity of wildfires, according to the U.S. Forest Service. So now, in addition to more dry eastern Oregon wildfires, we’re likely to experience more wildfires in the wetter western part of the state. “Wildfire is not an ‘if,’ but a ‘when,’ living in Oregon,” said Alison Green, a spokeswoman for the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Just as troubling for urban Oregonians is the increase in wildfires reaching cities. About 3,000 homes burned in Oregon communities such as Phoenix, Talent, Detroit and Blue River in 2020. Further afield, towns like Lahaina, Hawaii, and Boulder, Colorado, have also been devastated.
Jefferson Public Radio

Eugene firefighters put out fire likely caused by battery

Firefighters with Eugene Springfield Fire said they were able to put out a fire at a business Sunday night before it caused significant damage to the building. According to dispatch records, ESF crews were dispatched to 187 east Broadway at about 7:20 p.m. on April 28 for a report of a minor structure fire. ESF officials said a business owner had reported seeing a fire starting on their security camera and called 911. Firefighters arrived to find a fire on a workbench, and were able to put it out before it spread to the rest of the structure. ESF said the business owner’s quick reaction was instrumental in allowing them to respond in time to save the structure from significant damage. Firefighters said the fire was believed to have been caused by a lithium battery, but the Fire Marshal’s office is still investigating the incident.
KEZI-TV ABC 9 Eugene

1 rescued after NW Portland apartment fire

Fire crews rescued a victim from a burning Pearl District apartment Sunday night, authorities said. According to Portland Fire & Rescue, at around 10 p.m. Sunday night, crews responded to a 4th-floor fire at the Emmons Place Apartments. Upon arrival, crews said they found smoke filling the 4th-floor hallway and water streaming from underneath an apartment door. Inside the unit, crews said they found black smoke from floor to ceiling and high levels of clutter. The fire was quickly extinguished and a search of the unit began. Authorities said that in a room they found a victim who was unconscious, quickly removed them from the apartment and began first aid. The victim regained consciousness during treatment and they were taken away to a nearby hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries, officials said.
KOIN-TV CBS 6 Portland

Couple loses everything in Portland boat fire

VIDEO: A couple lost everything they own in a sailboat fire early Monday morning on the Willamette River. But they’re thankful for their dog, who they credit for saving their lives. The sailboat meant the world to 59-year-old Peter Sostilio, who had been living on the streets, before he was able to save up enough money to purchase the sailboat. Now both, him and his girlfriend are having to start over again. “Me and my lady were laying down this morning, it was about 4:30 or 5:00 and my dog was barking, and my boat was in flames,” said Sostilio. Sostilio and his girlfriend had to jump into the cold Willamette River to escape the flames. They both were able to escape safely, but Sostilio suffered burns to the side of his face, and his girlfriend suffered burns to her leg.
KGW-TV NBC 8 Portland

Bend fire crews stop blaze that burned homeless encampment, threatened businesses on NE Olney Avenue

Several reports of a fire behind warehouses and businesses in northeast Bend Sunday night brought firefighters to the scene, and they stopped the blaze, which destroyed a homeless camp behind one building before it could spread inside, an official said. Bend Fire & Rescue crews responded to multiple 911 calls around 9:30 p.m. of a fire on the exterior of a commercial building at Northeast First Street and Olney Avenue, Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said. A building occupant in the 100 block of Olney Avenue said she was working on preparing the space for her new business when she heard several bangs outside. She went outside to check, found ash was falling into the parking lot and quickly called 911, Derlacki said.
KTVZ-TV NBC/CW+ 21 Bend