Forest Grove House Fire Traps Family Pets Inisde

On the afternoon of Wednesday May 8, 2013 firefighters were dispatched to a report of smoke from a home at 1632 Cedar Street in “Old Town” Forest Grove. Just a few blocks from their fire station, when crews arrived they found smoke and flames coming from a bedroom window, and heavy brown smoke coming from the roof of the home. Early on, Incident Commanders were made aware that the resident of the home was outside and safe, but that her two pet dogs were somewhere in the home. Lieutenant Tony Carter from FGF&R found the dogs, unconscious and not breathing, in an upstairs room, and immediately brought them out of the smoky home as the firefighters from his crew extinguished the fire burning in the first floor bedroom.  

Smoke billows from the home as fire crews arrived on scene

 

Firefighter Randy Hoodenpyl and Lieutenant Jason Kellar from the Gaston Rural Fire Protection District assisted Lieutenant Carter, and firefighters Brad Shinpaugh and Cassie Knierim from Forest Grove with providing oxygen and medical care to the injured dogs. Fire and Police Chaplain Dexter Danielson then took the dogs and the homeowner to the Pacific Avenue Veterinary Clinic in Forest Grove, where the dogs began to recover. They were then transported to a clinic in Hillsboro that was capable of providing 24 hour care.  

Lieutenant Tony Carter (left) and Firefighter Cassie Knierim provide care to the injured dogs

Fire investigators believe the fire is a result of a series of overloaded extension cords and power strips inside the bedroom of the home. The homeowner was outside using a power leaf blower doing yard work at the time of the fire, and was notified by a passerby that smoke was coming from her bedroom window. The 1948 built home had exterior walls made from concrete, so structurally the house is still in excellent shape, unfortunately there was smoke damage throughout the home and estimates are expected to range between $40,000 - $60,000 worth of damage to the contents and structure. Approximately 22 firefighters from Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, and Gaston responded to the fire, that took about 30 minutes to contain.  Crews remained on scene for a few hours to extinguish hotspots in the walls and ceilings. Thankfully, there were no injuries to the resident or firefighters.

Fire crews from FGF&R prepare to ventilate the roof of the burning structure to remove dangerous heated gasses that were building up inside the home