Gresham Fire responds to house, DMV fire this weekend
Aug 20, 2012 (Menafn - The Oregonian - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --Gresham Fire and Rescue had more than a few bark dust fire calls this weekend. Some of the major responses:
Sunday, 5:58 p.m.: Fire crews responded to a single car accident, after a car crashed into a power pole in the 21100 block of Southeast Stark Street in Gresham. There were no injuries, but wires fell across Stark, slowing traffic for half an hour. Fire crews reported they contained fluids spilled from the car and directed traffic until Portland General Electric crews cleared the wires from the road.
Sunday, 2:12 p.m.: Following two calls about a fire near West Powell Boulevard and Southwest Highland Drive, fire crews scouted the area and discovered a contained fire on a log deck in the wetland north of Powell and east of Southwest Hartley Avenue. Crews reported a small log deck adjacent to a swamp and creek area was on fire. The logs were surrounded by tall green marsh grass that was not burning, crews reported, so the fire was contained with no spreading. They extinguished the fire with several tanks of water and class A foam mix to ensure the logs were fully extinguished.
Saturday, 6:44 p.m.: Crews responded to a home fire at a one-story single-family residence in the 1400 block of Northeast 16th Way, according to reports. Smoke was showing from roof vents, and a neighbor told fire crews that the homeowners were on vacation and their son was house sitting for them. For fear the son was inside, firefighters forced open the front door and searched the house. The house was empty. Crews found the fire above the bathroom ceiling -- in the attic -- and in the wall behind the sink. They shut off power to the house and extinguished the fire, then tore down the ceiling to stop extension of the fire. Loss was estimated at 30,000.
Saturday, 3:13 a.m.: Crews responded to the DMV fire that has closed the office for an undetermined amount of time, according to fire reports. Fire investigators reported moderate smoke was coming from the roof of the building, in the 2200 block of East Powell Boulevard, when fire crews arrived. Police directed firefighters to the front entryway, where fire appeared to be burning in the front overhang; a firewall reportedly kept flames in the overhang and out of the main attic space. Firefighters looked for extension and found none. Investigators determined a front support beam was the fire's point of origin. Loss is estimated at 30,000.
- Sara Hottman
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