News Release from: Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue
FIRE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINES CAUSE OF WOODSPRING APARTMENTS FIRE
Posted: May 17th, 2012 11:43 AM
A TVF&R fire investigator has determined that the most probable cause of last night's fire at the Woodspring Apartments was combustibles too close to a baseboard heater. The fire is believed to have started in the front bedroom of the ground floor unit (#123). The baseboard heater involved was a model that cannot be completely turned â€~off'; the thermostat is thermostatically controlled and automatically kicks on when the temperature in a room decreases to the lowest setting availalbe on the heater.
TVF&R advises that all furniture, bedding, and other combustibles should be kept at least three feet away from a baseboard heater. Additionally, ensure you are able to quickly escape in a fire by having working smoke alarms on every level of your home and a well-rehearsed escape plan.
Incident Background: The fire was reported at 10:45 pm. When firefighters from Station 35 arrived five minutes later, it had already consumed both a ground level apartment and the second-story apartment above. Recognizing the complex as senior housing, the fire officer on Engine 35 immediately upgraded the alarm, bringing additional firefighters and apparatus to the scene.
Neighbors told firefighters that they believed a couple was trapped in the second-story apartment. Firefighters battled their way up the outside stairwell, made entry, and searched the second-story apartment. No victims were found. The occupant of the ground floor apartment escaped before firefighters arrived. A resident who discovered the fire after it broke through the windows of the apartments helped alert nearby residents.
An aggressive interior and exterior fire attack by firefighters kept the fire from spreading to adjacent apartments. The heavily damaged units were home to three people who choose to stay with friends overnight.
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