Lebanon firefighters responded to multiple cars on fire in the 700 block of W Grant Street at 9:20 a.m. on Saturday, May 24.
The first unit to arrive was an Albany Fire Department medic unit that was moved up to Lebanon to help cover the district as multiple, simultaneous 911 calls were occurring in the city.
Firefighters on scene relayed to dispatch and incoming units that vehicles were fully engulfed and near a structure.
Lebanon fire crews arrived and began fighting the blaze when an explosion from inside a vehicle rocked the neighborhood, sending debris into nearby yards and streets. Firefighters continued to advance, extinguishing the blaze and keeping the fire from entering the house.
A second engine arrived and went to work, checking the inside of the house for extension of fire and making sure all residents were out. While firefighters were battling the car fires, the remains of a local resident that had been living in one of the cars was discovered.
Firefighters had the incident under control in about 20 minutes, with all three cars extinguished while the incident commander contacted the Lebanon police about the victim. At that time, the street was shut down to process and investigate.
The Lebanon Fire Investigation Team assisted at the scene with members of the local law enforcement, and two firefighters were evaluated at the local area hospital after sustaining minor injuries when the explosion occurred.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation and residents of the structure have been displaced until power can be restored to the home.
The Lebanon Fire District responded to the blaze with 17 personnel on one ladder truck, one engine, one fire/medic from Albany Fire, one fire/medic from Lebanon, one heavy rescue, two chief officers and a deputy fire marshal. Firefighters were assisted at the scene by Lebanon police and Pacific Power. Albany Fire provided an engine to help cover the district while the incident took place.