At approximately 7:30 pm on Thursday March 14, 2019, Newport Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a motor home on fire at an RV Park located on SE 123rd Street in South Beach. First arriving units observed heavy smoke coming from a 40-foot motor home with flames shooting through the roof. Neighbors were attempting to extinguish the flames with garden hoses.
Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire in just a few minutes. Search and extinguishment of hot spots took less than an hour. The fire was contained to the motor home. No other RV’s were damaged. The occupants escaped unharmed with their two dogs.
Newport Fire Department received mutual aid assistance from Lincoln County Sherriff’s Office and Seal Rock Fire District. Newport Fire Department responded with 2 fire engines, 1 water tender, 1 chief officer and 12 firefighters.
The cause of the fire was determined to be an electrical failure in the refrigerator. The RV park found alternate accommodations for the displaced residents.
On Thursday, March 7th at 4:00pm, Newport Police were dispatched to a multiple vehicle traffic crash in the Walmart parking lot in Newport. Initial reports were that multiple vehicles were on their side and one vehicle was on top of another. Upon arrival, Officers observed a red Acura Integra with a full size Dodge pickup resting on top of it. There were also several other vehicles that were struck by the Dodge after it had been on top of the Acura.
Investigation revealed that Chase Castle, age 27 of Depoe Bay, was operating the Acura. Castle had left the car wash directly to the south of the Walmart parking lot at a high rate of speed, and traveled across NW 25th St at approximately 60 mph. The Acura then entered into the Walmart parking lot and struck a curb. The Acura then T-Boned the Dodge pickup which was parked at the time with enough force to lift the Dodge on top of the Acura. The Acura then continued for approximately 50 feet with the Dodge on top of it before coming to a stop. Video Surveillance footage from Walmart was obtained and confirmed witnesses statements of the incident.
All 5 of the involved vehicles were unoccupied and parked except for the Acura which Castle was the sole occupant. The registered owners of the other vehicles were all located inside Walmart and responded out to the scene.
Castle was taken into custody and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail after being treated at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital for minor injuries. Castle was lodged on the following crimes:
Reckless Driving and Criminal Mischief II x4.
Newport Police were assisted at the scene by Newport Fire Department.
At approximately 12:30 overnight on Thursday February 28th 2019, Newport Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a chimney fire spreading into the ceiling at a residence in South Beach. First arriving units observed smoke coming from a chimney and roof of a two-story home. The homeowner was cooling the chimney from the exterior with a garden hose.
Fire crews were able to remove the fire from the fireplace and extinguish the fire after several hours of overhaul. The fire had spread to areas of the wall and multi-layered roof. A large section of the interior chimney rock face was removed to access the fire. Once removed, the interior of the wall showed that heat from the chimney had weakened the wood and made it more susceptible to a fire over time.
Newport Fire Department received mutual aid assistance from Pacific West Ambulance, Seal Rock Fire and Toledo Fire. Newport Fire Dept. responded with 2 fire engines, 1 water tender, 1 chief officer and 10 firefighters.
The cause of the fire was determined to be fire spread to structural members of the home from a faulty chimney flue. Working smoke detectors alerted the residents to the fire and they were able to evacuate safely.
At midnight on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, Newport Fire Department was dispatched to a fishing vessel on fire at Port Dock 5 on SE Bay BLVD. First arriving units observed heavy smoke coming from the fishing vessel BJ Thomas.
Fire crews used portable dock pumps and made access onto the vessel to extinguish the fire. Crews were hampered by having to force entry into the wheelhouse, extreme heat from the fire, and cold snowy conditions. After determining our dock pumps were not keeping up with the fire, the USCG Motor Life Boat Victory was called for assistance. Their on board fire pumps gave the needed water to extinguish the flames. Crews spent 3 hours, extinguishing the fire, cooling the vessel and performing overhaul.
Newport Fire Department received mutual aid assistance from USCG Station Yaquina Bay, Depoe Bay Fire, Seal Rock Fire, and Toledo Fire. Newport Police Dept., Lincoln County Sherriff’s Office and Pacific West Ambulance provided assistance. Newport Fire Dept. responded with 1 fire engine, 1 water tender, 1 heavy rescue, 1 chief officer and 8 firefighters.
The cause of the fire was determined to be a space heater too close to combustibles. All space heaters should have at least 18 inches of clearance.
This information was released by Newport Police Department on behalf of Newport Fire Department.
On February 19th, 2019 the Newport Police Department made contact with Deborah Lynn Reed, 48, of Newport, after learning Reed was selling large amounts of narcotics in the Newport area. Officers worked with the Lincoln County Parole and Probation Office and were able to interview Reed, while additional Newport Officers, including NPD Drug Detection K9 Nero, began searching Reed’s vehicle.
During the search of the vehicle, officers located evidence of drug use and sales. Officers located commercial amounts of Methamphetamine, Heroin, digital scales, packaging material, and records of drug sales. Along with the narcotics, officers seized US Currency and a vehicle used to facilitate the crimes.
Reed was arrested in September 2018, when Newport Police served a narcotics related search warrant on her residence. During the service of the warrant in 2018, Reed was found to be possession of approximately one pound of methamphetamine at the time, and was living at the residence with her juvenile child. During the 2018 incident, Reed was arrested and DHS assisted with placing the child.
Arrested on February 19th, 2019 at the scene and lodged in the Lincoln County Jail was;
Deborah Lynn Reed, 48
- Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
- Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
- Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
- Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Heroin
- Possession of a Controlled Substance – Heroin
- Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance – Heroin
- Parole/ Probation Violation