The Eugene Springfield Fire Department is asking residents to use garages and outbuildings as shelters after a garage fire near 21st and L Streets in Springfield killed multiple animals Friday morning. I'm warning you.
Firefighters arrived on the scene after neighbors smelled burning plastic and noticed smoke coming from a detached garage.
Eugene-Springfield Fire Department said the large number of belongings on the property delayed efforts to extinguish the fire, but firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes.
Firefighters also noticed that the garage was being used as a residence.
“The primary mission of the Eugene-Springfield Fire Department is to save lives, regardless of the space occupied,” Eugene-Springfield Fire Chief Mike Caven said in a press release. “With this in mind, if you or your loved one must resort to alternative shelter, please take special precautions for fire safety.”
Garages, outbuildings, and other shelters are not designed with occupancy in mind and are not regulated as such. Caven said this means they lack design features to slow a fire, safely escape a fire, or warn people of a fire.
To keep evacuation centers safe, Caven urges residents to consider installing smoke detectors and ensuring electrical safety in the area, as well as preventing sparks and flames from smoking, open flame cookers, space heaters, etc. Advised people to avoid things that trigger them.
No one was in the garage at the time of the fire, but a search of the scene revealed the remains of several dead pets.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. Please contact HKochanski@gannett.com..
