Toledo Firefighters Kept Busy With Structure Fire and Truck Fire

According to Toledo Deputy Fire Chief Larry Robeson. Toledo firefighters had a busy weekend, responding to both a house fire in town and a commercial truck fire on Georgia-Pacific property. Robeson said the structure fire happened Friday, March 27, in the northwest part of Toledo on Spruce Street. The call first came in as smoke in a structure, but conditions escalated quickly while crews were still en route. “We got information over the radio that flames had broke out in the eaves of the structure,” Robeson said.

Firefighters from Toledo, with mutual aid from Siletz, Newport and East Lincoln Fire were able to contain the fire to the room of origin and get it quickly under control. All occupants had evacuated before crews arrived, and no injuries were reported to residents or responders. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office is handling the investigation. Robeson said that, as is often the case with structure fires, the home will likely suffer major loss due to smoke and fire damage. He added that the Red Cross was notified to help the displaced residents with housing and support.

A key concern for Robeson was how the occupants were alerted. The family noticed a loud noise and the smell of smoke, which led them to realize the house was on fire and they called for help and evacuated the home. Robeson stressed that the time of day likely prevented a more serious outcome. “This fire happened while everybody was awake, so there was no issues of that,” he said, noting that it was in the early evening. “But this exact scenario at midnight could have been a different story.”

Robeson said firefighters remained on scene at the house for roughly three hours to fully extinguish hot spots, perform overhaul, and assist investigators. Robeson reminds the public about the importance of working smoke alarms. He noted that in many cases, smoke alarms are available at little or no cost. “These are always going to be strongly recommended and are free in most cases, through the cooperation of the Red Cross and your local fire departments,” he added. He encourages residents to make sure they have smoke detectors installed, tested regularly, and equipped with fresh batteries. Also, he added make sure your family is prepared by having a fire escape plan.

The next morning, Saturday March 28th just before 7 a.m., Toledo crews were called to a commercial vehicle fire on Georgia-Pacific property, with mutual aid from East Lincoln Fire. Robeson said a truck experienced a mechanical failure in the engine compartment, which started a fire that destroyed the cab. He said. The flames “completely burned up the cab of the truck,” leaving molten metal on the ground. There were no injuries, and the truck was severely damaged from the fire.