Apartment Fire Leaves Local Family Homeless

Watch video of the fire in historic Mt. Angel.

Photo and video by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(MT. ANGEL, Ore.) - At approximately 1:00 am this morning, the Mt. Angel Fire District was called out to a commercial structure fire located in the downtown portion of the City of Mt. Angel.

The fire started in an apartment located above several commercial businesses which are all connected together through the downtown core area.

On arrival, the first units on scene observed a large amount of smoke and flames coming from the windows on West side of the second story apartments.

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 ladder truck. Other agencies that assisted include: Monitor Fire District, Woodburn Fire District, and Marion County Fire.

Several adults and children were in the apartments when the fire broke out. Two adults were taken to local hospitals for injuries sustained when they had to jump to safety. The children were not injured during the ordeal. There were no injuries to any of the firefighters. The Willamette chapter of the Red Cross is assisting with persons who have been displaced by the blaze.

Fire, smoke and water damage is extensive throughout the apartments as well as the businesses located below. There is no monetary estimate at this time for the damage that has occurred.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Marion County Fire Investigation Team.

Updates will be sent as more information becomes available.

This press release was issuedt on behalf of the Mt. Angel Fire District

From the Red Cross:

Volunteers with the American Red Cross responded to an apartment fire Thursday morning, in the 100 block of West Charles Street in Mt. Angel.

In addition to assisting a family of 4 earlier in the morning the Red Cross has assisted a man who's been credited with helping to evacuate 2-young children from a neighboring apartment unit.

The man's apartment unit sustained considerable fire, smoke and water damage and is inhabitable. The Red Cross has assisted with shelter, food, clothing and emotional support.

How to Help: In Oregon, the American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disaster every 20 hours; supplies more than 90 percent of Oregon's blood; teaches thousands of Oregonians lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.

The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please call 503-585-5414 redcross.org.

Video of the scene recorded by Jerry Freeman; this is raw video, no narrative, but great shots of the fire crews working to bring the apartment fire under control: