An investigation is under way into a fire that occurred Saturday, Jan. 26, in a vacant home at 221 Jennings Street in Lebanon.
Fire crews were called to the three-bedroom, 1,100-square-foot home near Main Street at 9:06 a.m. with a report of smoke billowing from the home. The first crews to arrive reported smoke from the east side of the building pushing from the eaves as well as the crawlspace vents.
Firefighters forced entry into the home to extinguish the fire and search for potential victims; however, the home was unoccupied at the time, according to a Lebanon Fire District statement.
The fire continued to slowly burn inside of interior walls, the attic space, and the home’s crawlspace, and firefighters continued to work on scene for over two hours to extinguish all hot spots. Crews used thermal imaging cameras to detect hidden burning areas within the structural void spaces and then opened walls with chainsaws and axes to extinguish the creeping fire.
Neighbors told investigators that the house was recently being remodeled and was listed for sale, with realtors showing the home to potential buyers as recently as Friday afternoon.
There were no injuries and no damage estimation
has been determined.
The Lebanon Fire Investigation Team has picked up the investigation. Anyone with information about this fire is encouraged to contact Deputy Fire Marshal Ken Foster at (541)-619-8746. 8 pieces of LFD apparatus responded to the fire along with 2 chief officers.