Lebanon Firefighters Contain Fire (Photo)
- 01/19/26
Lebanon, Oregon
Lebanon’s firefighters were dispatched to a small fire in the early morning of January 19, 2026, the fire was located at 30 E Oak Street which was the former Rite Aid building. While the single engine was responding, the dispatch center upgraded the incident to a first alarm (calling for more equipment and personnel) due to the fire beginning to burn up the side of the building and possibly getting to the inside. When the on-duty Battalion Chief arrived, he found the fire in two large, wheeled plastic trash bins as well as bushes with fire climbing the wall. The buildings sprinkler system was activated, which helped keep the fire from getting bigger until firefighters arrived. Bystanders that were in the area saw the fire, called 911 and then pulled the burning bins and some debris away from the building before firefighters arrived.
When the first engine arrived, they quickly went to work containing the fire that was running up the outside of the building, keeping it from getting bigger and from getting inside, while other firefighters were extinguishing the trash bins that were full of belongings used as storage containers and the bushes near the building. The districts ladder truck arrived moments later with off duty personnel and used the ariel ladder to gain access to the roof, those crews also made a thorough search of the building after breaching the doors using tools to get in. Firefighters found no fire or people in the building and crews were able to secure the fire sprinkler system until repairs could be made. No injuries were reported and the fire likely started from the unhoused using the area around the bushes for sleeping.
During this cold snap, The Lebanon Fire District would like to remind residents to follow safe home-heating instructions. Space heaters should be used with care, plugged directly into an outlet, and not permitted to remain on when residents are sleeping or away.
Lebanon Firefighters Contain Fire (Photo)
- 01/19/26
Lebanon, Oregon
Lebanon’s firefighters were dispatched to a small fire in the early morning of January 19, 2026, the fire was located at 30 E Oak Street which was the former Rite Aid building. While the single engine was responding, the dispatch center upgraded the incident to a first alarm (calling for more equipment and personnel) due to the fire beginning to burn up the side of the building and possibly getting to the inside. When the on-duty Battalion Chief arrived, he found the fire in two large, wheeled plastic trash bins as well as bushes with fire climbing the wall. The buildings sprinkler system was activated, which helped keep the fire from getting bigger until firefighters arrived. Bystanders that were in the area saw the fire, called 911 and then pulled the burning bins and some debris away from the building before firefighters arrived.
When the first engine arrived, they quickly went to work containing the fire that was running up the outside of the building, keeping it from getting bigger and from getting inside, while other firefighters were extinguishing the trash bins that were full of belongings used as storage containers and the bushes near the building. The districts ladder truck arrived moments later with off duty personnel and used the ariel ladder to gain access to the roof, those crews also made a thorough search of the building after breaching the doors using tools to get in. Firefighters found no fire or people in the building and crews were able to secure the fire sprinkler system until repairs could be made. No injuries were reported and the fire likely started from the unhoused using the area around the bushes for sleeping.
During this cold snap, The Lebanon Fire District would like to remind residents to follow safe home-heating instructions. Space heaters should be used with care, plugged directly into an outlet, and not permitted to remain on when residents are sleeping or away.
