By Deborah Bloom
The Oregonian
CORNELIUS, Ore. — A two-alarm fire that gutted the inside of an unofficial halfway house two miles south of Cornelius was likely the result of a lit barbecue, fire officials said Monday.
But the Cornelius Fire Department won’t formally investigate the incident because of tenants’ hostilities towards emergency responders, said department spokesperson Matt Johnston. “We just don’t want to be risking the safety of our guys out there,” Johnston said. “We’re labeling it as ‘undetermined.’”
Firefighters were called to the 5400 block of Southwest Hergert Road on Saturday at around 6:20 p.m. They arrived shortly after to find heavy fire coming from the back of the two-story home, according to a department press release.
Full story: Cornelius Fire Department won’t investigate site of house fire, citing safety concerns