Lebanon Firefighters Battle Blaze In The Rural (Photo) - 02/02/24
Lebanon Oregon,
Lebanon Firefighters responded mid-afternoon on February 2nd to a structure fire in the 3100 block of Old Santiam Highway. The first arriving unit radioed, fire from the second story out a window. When the Battalion Chief arrived, he radioed dispatch of a working fire, and after he completed his 360 walk around of the structure, the IC declared an offensive fire attack. The first due ladder truck arrived, and crews quickly deployed two attack lines to begin combat of the blaze. The IC request a 2nd alarm rural assignment that brought additional water-tenders and firefighters on engines to the scene from outside agencies. Lebanon firefighters entered the building and encountered heavy smoke which also obscured a staircase into a basement that was unknown to them. Fire crews were quickly able to gain access into the living room where they encountered fire in the staircase to the half story above. Firefighters encountered another obstacle while combating the fire, which were lives wires coming from the solar panels located on the roof. With the help of the homeowner, power was secured from the panels until Pacific power arrived to cut the lines from the power pole.
Firefighters were able to get a quick knock down and began the mop-up stage. Even with all the power secured firefighters were still running into electrical arcing which was due to the solar panels still producing power. Crews made access to the roof and covered the panels with heavy tarps which stopped the generation process. Fire crews were on scene approximately three and half hours and there were no reports of injury even with the dangerous obstacles firefighters faced. It is unknown at this time if the family cat was able to escape the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation and the fire districts investigation team (LFIT) will begin to piece the incident together in the morning hours.
Lebanon Firefighters responded with twenty personnel to the scene on one ladder truck, one engine, two ALS medic units, one water-tender, one heavy rescue, one rehab unit for firefighters and three staff vehicles. Firefighters were assisted at the scene by Albany Fire Department, Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District, Scio Fire Department, Pacific Power and Linn County Sheriff's Office. Additional apparatus from Scio Fire Department, Albany Fire Department and Brownsville Fire District backfilled the Lebanon stations to manage additional emergency calls.
Lebanon Fire District would like to remind all residents of the importance of working smoke detectors and if you are using alternate methods to power your residence such as solar panels, to clearly mark external disconnect devices to your home. Be Safe Lebanon…
