Fires in trash bins damage Eugene apartments
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.
