FlashAlert
At 4:10pm Sweet Home Fire was dispatched to a report of a 30' X 40' shop on fire. The caller reported that there were nearby trees burning as well. Firefighters arrived on scene to find the shop fully involved, and the nearby Oak Heights Elementary School threatened by the fire. One occupant of the school escaped unharmed as the smoke and fire, driven by the wind, blew towards the school. Several explosions occurred, believed to be due to multiple tires, propane and other gas tanks. Multiple 60' tall fir trees were torched by the blaze. Twenty-two Sweet Home firefighters responded to the fire. A second alarm was requested which brought units from Lebanon, Brownsville, and Halsey. The second alarm was canceled before those units arrived when the fire was brought under control by the first alarm assignment. Oregon Department of Forestry units also responded to the scene and extinguished a fire in a bark dust pile at Oak Heights which was started by embers from the shop fire. The shop and its contents were a total loss. No other structures sustained any damage. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was unintentional, and was linked to an occupant welding in an area with flammable materials nearby.
If photo is available it can be found here
Fire destroys shop, nearby elementary school escapes damage (Photo)
