Crews battle tough Oak Grove house fire

[dwportl...@gmail.com]

Another "Portland Oregon" area house fire --- April 19 2008

Don's books must be making a major impact on me --- that I am noticing
the references to "clutter" and "material piled high" which fire
fighters encounter battling some fires......... "the home was filled
with material, which was piled up to 4 feet high in some places".

Sounds like whether it is an "occupied residence" or just used for
"storage".... clutter is clutter and can be dangerous!


Story Updated: Apr 17, 2008 at 2:29 PM PDT

By KATU Web Staff

OAK GROVE, Ore. - Firefighters in Clackamas County fought a difficult
house fire in Oak Grove Thursday morning, but no one was injured.

Crews had to use water and foam to put down the fire, which began
about 2:30 a.m.

Neighbors reported hearing several loud explosions coming from the
home before spotting the fire.

Fire officials said the fire was difficult to fight because the inside
of the home was filled with material, which was piled up to 4 feet
high in some places.

They did not elaborate on what the materials were.

As daylight broke, crews were still on scene fighting the blaze and
occasional flare-ups were still breaking out.

The home was not occupied at the time of the fire, but the homeowner
was located in Corvallis and was reportedly headed to the scene.

Firefighters called the blaze a "trail" fire because there is only a
small trail through the debris in the home, making the fire dangerous
for firefighters to battle inside the home because they have to stand
up and work closer to the fire and dangerous toxic smoke.

The cause is under investigation.