Fire damages home, trailer Tuesday morning
A two-alarm fire in Forest Grove drew a large response from local and neighboring fire agencies to a home near 23rd Avenue and Rhodora Street.
A two-alarm fire in Forest Grove drew a large response from local and neighboring fire agencies to a home near 23rd Avenue and Rhodora Street.
One person was injured and evaluated on scene, but did not immediately require transportation and was seen walking around the area with a bandaged arm.
Sandy Hopson was walking her dog in the neighborhood, near McMenamins Grand Lodge, when she saw a huge response from fire and police agencies arriving at the scene.
Photos: Chas Hundley
"We had just walked up here before all that," Hopson said, noting that she hadn't seen anything before fire trucks and police vehicles began arriving.
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Forest Grove Fire & Rescue Public Information Officer Matt Johnston said that a shelter in place order, issued for homes in a quarter-mile radius, was lifted about 20 minutes after it was issued.
The order was issued over concerns about a gas cylinder venting gas, later believed to be propane. Johnston described a large amount of flames near several propane tanks behind the home.
"The fire was very intense," Johnston said, noting a "very large header of smoke." He added that this is typical of outdoor fires, which receive plenty of oxygen and allow smoke to vent more easily than indoor fires.
Black smoke was visible as far away as Hillsboro during the fire.
"The fire then traveled through the house," he added.
"The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but is believed to have originated on the back deck/patio of the house. A total of six adults are displaced and are receiving assistance by the American Red Cross," Forest Grove Fire & Rescue later added in press release.
A small camping trailer was also damaged.
On scene, crews from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue were joined by firefighters from the Cornelius Fire Department, Gaston Rural Fire District, Banks Fire District, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, and Hillsboro Fire & Rescue.
Forest Grove Light and Power, AMR, and the Forest Grove Police Department were also on scene. The Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (WCCCA) worked with Forest Grove Fire & Rescue to issue the shelter in place order.
The fire is the second residential fire to draw a large response in two days after a fire on Monday was accidentally upgraded to a 2nd alarm fire.
