Lebanon firefighters battled their second structure fire in a 24-hour period late Friday afternoon April 5.
Dispatch received reports of smoke coming from a residence in the 100 block of S. 6th street. When the battalion chief arrived, he found a former Lebanon volunteer firefighter using a garden hose containing the fire to its room of origin.
The incident commander radioed a working offensive fire as he finished his 360 walk around. The next arriving unit was a fire medic unit that forced open the door and did a quick sweep, ensuring no occupants were trapped.
When the first ladder truck arrived, they laid 300 feet of supply line from a hydrant for additional water. Firefighters quickly went to work making their way to the seat of the fire while other fire crews cut a hole in the roof to help ventilate the structure and preform a search for occupants. The IC radioed the blaze under control after approximately 20 minutes. Firefighters remained on scene an additional hour overhauling and investigating the blaze.
Lebanon Fire Investigation Team (LFIT) was leading the investigation. No injuries were reported, but the family’s cat didn’t make it out of the structure in time. The family will be displaced due to fire and smoke damage.
Lebanon Fire District responded with 19 personnel on one ladder truck, three engines, two ALS fire medic units, one heavy rescue and one rehab unit for firefighters. Three staff officers also responded. LFD was assisted at the scene by Lebanon Police Department and PP&L, while Albany Fire Department assisted the district by covering the additional 911 calls.
LFD reminds residents about the importance of working smoke alarms. For assistance with smoke alarms, contact the Fire & Life Safety Division at 541.451.1901.