ALBANY, Ore. (KMTR) -- The Albany Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 2296 Hill Street SE, Apartment #3, at approximately 11:20 PM last night with persons unable to escape reported by a 911 call. Firefighters arrived at the scene in about three minutes to find a one-story, four-unit apartment building with smoke coming from the windows and one bedroom involved with fire.
Firefighters and Albany Police Department officers rescued two persons from the smoke-filled apartment, while quick work by firefighters allowed them to confine the blaze to the apartment and attic above. They were able to bring the fire under control in approximately twenty minutes.
Overall suppression operations lasted approximately seventy minutes as firefighters verified there was no hidden fire in the walls or attic. However, the fire department will be providing for a fire watch overnight as a precaution.
An occupant called 911, reported smoke inside the apartment and that they were unable to get outside. Two persons were in the apartment at the time of the fire and were rescued. Flames were reported coming from a bedroom window and smoke filled the rest of the apartment to the floor as an Albany Police officer entered and rescued one occupant, while a second occupant was rescued by firefighters during a subsequent search of the unit.
The bedroom suffered significant fire damage, while heavy smoke damage occurred throughout the apartment. The extensive damage left the entire building prevented tenants from re-occupying their units. All of the occupants were provided assistance for temporary housing.
Twenty fire department personnel responded to this emergency call along with the Albany Police Department, who assisted at the scene. Off-duty Albany firefighters and firefighters from Lebanon Fire District and the Corvallis Fire Department also responded to handle subsequent emergency calls during this incident.
The cause of this fire is under investigation and the dollar loss has not been determined. There were no injuries to police officers and firefighters reported as a result of this incident.
