Arson most likely did not spark Vale blaze
Friday fire caused an estimated $300,000 in damages
By William Lundquist
Argus Observer
Tuesday, November 6, 2007 10:46 AM PST
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| Area firefighters pour water onto a burning section of downtown Vale Friday afternoon. The fire does not look like it was sparked by arson, Vale Fire Chief Todd Hesse said Monday. Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire. |
Vale — Arson has been ruled out as a cause of Friday afternoon’s fire in downtown Vale that generated an estimated $300,000 in damages to a small apartment building and adjacent buildings, Vale Fire Chief Todd Hesse said Monday.
Hesse said he is “about 99 percent sure” what caused the fire, but not sure enough to officially name that cause yet. He was only willing to state that the fire was accidental.
Hesse said the $300,000 damage total may also rise as more information comes in. Hardest hit, he said, was the apartment in which the fire started. With their apartment completely gutted, he said, owner-occupants Mark and Valarie Britton are looking for a place to live.
There were no injuries in the fire, either to occupants or firefighters.
“That’s the best part,” Hesse said. “That’s why we train the way we do. Property is never, ever worth human life.”
In a stroke of luck, Hesse was returning from Ontario and was among the first to spot the smoke. He called the fire in almost simultaneously with Malheur County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Bob Speelman, who spotted the smoke and, like Hesse, called his department’s dispatchers.
“I knew exactly what I had,” Hesse said of the advantage of the fire chief being the first to spot the fire he would then have to battle. “Churning through my head was my plan.”
Not only did Hesse call his own department, but also the fire departments of Ontario, Nyssa, Weiser, Payette and Fruitland. New Plymouth, Adrian, Parma, Emmett and Midvale also assisted. Hesse said his original estimate of 75 firefighters at the fire was spot on. Equipment included 15 structure engines and four ladder trucks, he said. He added that they were needed.
“There was a lot of fire,” Hesse said. “We did a nice job holding it in one spot.”
His department did not have to hold the line alone for long, he said. Assistance from Ontario arrived in about 10 minutes. He had high praise for that department, as well as all the other area fire departments, calling them all “well-trained.”
Hesse also thanked the Oregon Department of Transportation for blocking off the road, the Malheur County Sheriff’s Department for providing traffic control and the Vale Public Works Department for keeping the water flowing to fight the fire.
“We all work as a team,” Hesse said. “Everyone has a part to play.”
On Monday, Hesse was preparing to travel to Las Vegas for a national firefighters conference. He said it would give him the opportunity to meet and interact with fire chiefs from all over the nation, and to learn about new equipment and fire fighting techniques.
“That knowledge is very valuable to a small town,” he said.
