SPACE HEATER IS DETERMINED AS CAUSE OF FATAL FIRE

A space heater left on and in use too close to a couch is what fire investigators believe caused a fire in Forest Grove that left a grandmother dead and her teenage grandson badly burned early Monday (March 28, 2011) morning. That is the determination of fire investigators who were at the home at 2235 Laurel Street. The elderly couple who lived in the home with their two teenage grandsons had used the portable electric space heater in the room where they slept. According to the husband, Hyrum Long (76), he had went to help his wheel chair bound wife Velvalee (also 76) use the restroom in the middle of the night. During this, Mr. Long told investigators that he heard crackling noises and discovered the fire burning in the living room of the home. Mr. Long was not able to get Mrs. Long out of the home, but he escaped with his two grandsons, one of which suffered burns as he ran through the fire to get out of the home. When fire crews arrived on scene at 1:57 am they found heavy fire coming from the front and back of the home and discovered Mrs. Long deceased inside the bathroom of the 1960’s era brick home.

Fire Investigators from Forest Grove Fire and Police Departments, the Oregon State Police, Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Portland Field Office worked all day Monday to sift through the debris from the fire and they determined that the probable cause of this fire was an electric portable heater that was in the living room. They discovered what appeared to be boxes of clothing inches away from the heater, the clothing likely ignited first and spread the fire to a nearby couch as well as the hospital style bed used by Mrs. Long. The tremendous fuel load of the couch and bed caused the fire to burn extremely quickly and the fire spread rapidly throughout the rest of the home. No working smoke alarms were found by fire investigators, though a very old heat detector was found; it appeared that it did not function.

This is the first structure fire fatality in Forest Grove in 13 years and has some characteristics that are common in fires involving our elderly population. Fire Officials urge that the community take steps to make sure that this kind of tragedy does not happen to them:

- Place space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, and never leave space heaters on when you leave the room or go to bed.

- Make sure that you have working smoke alarms that are less than 10 years old in your home. Test all of your smoke alarms monthly.

- Have a family fire escape plan and practice it regularly. If you have people in your home with special needs (like those in wheel chairs) identify ways that they can escape safely.

- Keep your exit paths clear, do not leave items in hallways and in doorways that can cause your exit from the home to be slowed down.

Forest Grove Fire & Rescue wants you to make fire safety a priority and we will help you identify ways to make your home fire safe. If you have questions about improving the fire safety of your home please call us today at 503.992.3240.