Fires in trash bins damage Eugene apartments

Fires in trash bins damage Eugene apartments

Tools

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.

Icon
Current Temp 40.0 °F
Overcast
More Weather

Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

On Demand

Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV.

Viewer Poll

What should Oprah do after her show ends Sept. 9, 2011?
Read more and join the discussion

  • Start a primetime talk show
  • Go into politics
  • Focus on the Web and her magazine
  • More philanthropic work in Africa
  • Whatever she wants; the world's her oyster!