By JOHN SNELL
The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon)
ALOHA, Oregon — A man who was rescued from his burning Aloha apartment early Monday is accused of tussling with one of the firefighters trying to save him.
Authorities said Bradley Westman, 34, ordered the firefighter out of his apartment. Westman was arrested and charged with harassment and interfering with a firefighter.
The incident happened after firefighters broke into Westman’s apartment in the 4100 block of Southwest 170th Avenue. to put out the fire. Westman was asleep when fire crews arrived but woke up when firefighters broke down his door. Authorities said Westman shoved one of the firefighters.
The fire was reported at 3:51 a.m., said Sgt. David Thompson, Washington County Sheriff’s Office spokesman. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue crews traced the fire to Westman’s apartment, said Storm Smith, a fire agency spokesman.
After knocking at the apartment’s front and rear doors, firefighters burst in, Smith said. He said crews are trained to enter buildings under such circumstances because people may be trapped or unconscious.
Westman came toward the firefighters in a threatening way.
“Firefighters shut the front door and attempted to talk to Mr. Westman through the door,” Thompson said. Westman wouldn’t cooperate, Thompson said, and a firefighter forced his way in to put out the flames. Westman began shoving the firefighter and trying to order him out.
Westman was arrested by sheriff’s deputies and taken to the Washington County Jail. Thompson said deputies weren’t sure why Westman didn’t want the firefighters in his home.