The first of two fires PF&R responded to Tuesday was reported at 2468 NW Kearney, at 11:50 pm. Firefighters arrived to fire shooting out of a third floor window of a three story Victorian home. The neighboring house, being only a couple feet away, was taking a direct hit from the impinging flames.
Firefighters from Station 3 attacked the fire from the second story and fought their way to the third floor where the seat of the fire was located. At the same time Firefighters on the outside raised ladders to the neighboring house and protected it with water spray.
No one was in the room on the third floor when the fire broke out. The third floor was heavily damaged and moderate smoke and water damage to the second floor of the home.
No one was injured and Fire Investigators say the cause was accidental and will remain undetermined. There was not enough evidence to say definitively what caused the fire. They place the loss at $258,000.00
The second fire was reported at 10:00 am, at 11604 SW 33rd Pl. Reports to dispatchers indicated that there were flames shooting 20 ft into the air. Fire Crews arrived at 10:05 am and quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire which was on the exterior of the home and had consumed part of the roof. Firefighters spent several hours digging through and tearing off the roof structure to assure that the fire was completely extinguished.
No civilians or firefighters were injured.
Investigators blame the fire on spontaneous combustion, and eastimate the loss to be in the area of $275,000.00.
Yesterday the homeowner had been putting a finish on a teak gazebo in the back yard using boiled linseed oil and cotton rags. When he finished he piled the rags on a table on the deck. The boiled linseed oil breaks down fairly rapidly and generates heat which builds up in the rag pile, until its hot enough to ignite the rags and surrounding combustibles.
Homeowners should be reminded to read the labels on products because some products have very specific storage or clean up requirements. And many labels contain information on antidotes and ventilation needs that you will be unaware of if you don’t read the instructions. Had this fire happened at night when the occupants were sleeping the outcome could have been tragic.