By Kristine Thomas
Fire and police personnel continued to swarm Mount Angel 36 hours after a three-alarm fire was reported in a second story downtown apartment.
More than 25 firefighters with the Mount Angel Fire District along with an additional 25 firefighters from the Marion/Polk County Fire Investigation Team responded to the alarm around 1 a.m. Feb. 10.
“It was a hell of a blaze and the whole block could have been gone,” Mount Angel Fire District Public Information Officer Dave Bochsler said. “The firefighters worked all night to prevent what could have been a total disaster.”
The subsequent investigation Feb. 10 and 11 closed Charles Street in the heart of the business corridor.
Before the street was reopened at 2:45 p.m. Feb. 11, it was choked with an emergency response trailer and vehicles from fire districts including Stayton, Silverton, Aurora, Hubbard, Polk County, the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Canby Police Department Crime Scene Investigation unit.
The Marion/Polk County Fire Investigation Team in conjunction with the Mount Angel Fire District determined the fire in the units above 155 E. Charles St. to be accidental. At press time the cause was still under investigation.
The blaze damaged the two upstairs units and smoke along with water from fire suppression efforts forced the temporary closure of Dave’s Upholstery, Mount Angel Financial Services, The Koffee Konnection and the Grant Co., all either immediately beneath or adjoining the apartments.
According to a press release from the Mount Angel Fire District, fire crews worked for several hours to control the blaze. Because the fire had entered the attic portion of the structure, ventilation and fire suppression was done with the aid of the Silverton Fire District along with assistance from the Monitor, Woodburn and Marion County Fire districts.
Two women, whose names had not been released by Our Town press time, were taken to local hospitals for injuries sustained when they jumped from a second floor window. Their conditions are unknown. A man helped two children out of the burning building. No other injuries were reported.
Mount Angel PIO Bochsler praised the work of his firefighters as well as assisting agencies.
Both Bochsler and Assistant Fire Chief Don Seiler said there are no public health or safety concerns resulting from the fire for those resuming business downtown.
There was no estimate for the monetary damage to the apartments or neighboring buildings. The tenants of both units were displaced by the fire.
