The City of Roseburg Fire Department will be dedicating the community’s newest fire engine with a traditional “Push In” ceremony this Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. The “Push In” ceremony will be held at the Roseburg Fire Department, Station Two, located at 2177 W. Harvard Avenue. The dedication will consist of a ceremonial wash-down of the new fire engine and then the engine will be pushed by hand into the apparatus bay of its new firehouse. This dedication ceremony is new to the City of Roseburg Fire Department, but has been a tradition in the fire service since the days of horse drawn fire apparatus.
When fire apparatus were pulled by horses, horses could not back the fire apparatus into the firehouse, so the crew would have to unhitch the horses in front of the firehouse. The crew would stable the horses, then wash the apparatus prior to pushing it into the apparatus bay. This ceremony honors the history and traditions of the fire service while wishing well upon all that serve on and are served by our community’s newest fire engine.
The new engine is a 2021 Pierce Impel 1500 gallon per minute pumper. The state of the art pumper was designed and outfitted by City of Roseburg Fire Department Apparatus Committee members. The pumper was purchased through Hughes Fire Equipment and manufactured by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisconsin. The new engine will replace a 1997 KME engine that served fifteen years as a first out fire engine and ten years as a reserve.
At 11:07 a.m. on December 26, 2021, Roseburg Fire Department personnel responded to a reported recreational vehicle on fire in the 1700 block of SE Mill Street. The reporting party notified Douglas County Dispatch that a motorhome was on fire across from 1729 SE Mill Street.
Upon arrival on scene, firefighters found a fully involved motorhome on fire in the 1700 block of SE Mill Street with the occupant outside of the vehicle. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and completed overhaul. The motorhome was a total loss due to fire, smoke, and water damage. One adult resident was displaced. The occupant of the vehicle sustained burn injuries and smoke inhalation but refused medical treatment and transport.
The fire was initiated by the vehicle occupant lighting a gas stove when a small fire flashed, then igniting some nearby papers. Nine firefighters assisted with firefighting operations. Other agencies assisting with the fire included Douglas County Fire District #2, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, and Roseburg Police Department.
For the latest information regarding the City of Roseburg Fire Department, please visit our website at www.cityofroseburg.org or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/roseburgfire.
At 2:51 p.m. on December 22, 2021, Roseburg Fire Department was dispatched to a residential structure fire at 889 SE Chadwick Street. Douglas County Dispatch received multiple calls of smoke and flames showing from the residence. Dispatch received notification of a possible resident still inside the home.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find a single family, two-story residence with heavy fire and smoke showing from the north side of the structure. Firefighters conducted a primary search of the residence and found one unconscious female inside the residential structure. The female was removed from the home and transported by ambulance to the hospital.
Firefighters then conducted a secondary search and made an interior attack to extinguish the fire, secured utilities, and completed overhaul. Three adult residents were displaced due to the fire. The American Red Cross was notified and is assisting the displaced residents.
A total of 15 firefighters assisted with firefighting operations. Other agencies assisting with the fire included Douglas County Fire District #2, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Roseburg Police Department, Pacific Power, and Avista Utilities.
The residence sustained extensive structural and water damage. The home is no longer habitable. Fire investigators were on scene and the cause of the fire is under investigation.