House Fire Displaces One After Matchstick Breaks And Drops Onto Couch (Photo) - 03/08/26

At 07:20 this morning Sweet Home Fire was dispatched for a house fire that was reported to be fully engulfed. The single occupant of the home escaped the fire and reported that it started when she struck a match to light her woodstove and the head of the matchstick broke off falling onto the couch. She attempted to remove the burning couch but was not able to and was forced to evacuate the home. The fire quickly spread throughout the double-wide manufactured home, and was called into 911 by neighbors. The Incident Commander requested a second-alarm assignment upon leaving the station when a large header of smoke could be seen. The first fire unit arrived on scene at 07:26 and found half of the structure fully involved with flames from every window and venting through the roof, while the other half of the structure was charged with black smoke. Engine crews arrived and had water on the fire at 07:33 and the fire was knocked down at 07:45. Water supply was provided by tender shuttle utilizing water tenders from Sweet Home, Lebanon, and Brownsville. Crews remained on scene overhauling the structure for 3 more hours as access was difficult due to the heavy structural damage making it unsafe for firefighters to enter all areas of the home. The second alarm assignment resources included an engine, water tender and Battalion Chief from Lebanon Fire, and a water tender from Brownsville Fire. In total there were 12 units on scene and 24 firefighters. No firefighters were injured, however one person was transported to a local hospital by ambulance for evaluation. The home and its contents are a complete loss, and a vehicle that was parked near the home sustained minor damage from radiant heat.