Fires in trash bins damage Eugene apartments

Fires in trash bins damage Eugene apartments

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By KVAL.com staff

EUGENE, Ore. -- A string of blazes hit downtown Eugene over the weekend.

One happened at Patterson Alley and 16th Avenue, where a fire in a garbage bin spread to one of the units of an apartment building and then to the back of a house.

Firefighters got an elderly woman out of the house unharmed.

The fire did an estimated $202,000 worth of damage.

Two other fires burned near Kinsrow Avenue and Centennial Boulevard.

"You could see it from about 10 or 15 blocks away: a big column of smoke, lots of flames," said Lance Lighty, district chief with the Eugene Fire Department. "We also had a powerline down in the alley, it was arcing. So it does hamper the firefight."

Less than 20 minutes later, another fire broke out in a trash bin at Chase Village apartments. Damage spread to a four car garage.

Fire officials said both of these fires appear to be caused by a discarded burning item, like a cigarrette butt.

The third fire, on Kinsrow, caused minor damage and was started because of a faulty dryer.

Lighty said crews also battled a couple of small grass fires earlier in the day that appear to be suspicious.

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