A first-alarm fire at 1864 S. Seventh St. shortly before 6 p.m. Monday destroyed a home, displacing a family of seven.
Fire Marshal Mark Wilson said the fire started in backed-up lint in the dryer vent under the house.
Four people who were in the house discovered the blaze and called 911 after getting out.
Angela and Jason Nordberg lived in the home with their five children, Kaitlyn, 19, Dharrieus, 16, William 14, Jordan, 13, and Lexie, 11. They have four dogs, who survived, and one guinea pig, who probably did not, Angela Nordberg said.
Angela Nordberg, son William and two family friends, Tracy Colbert and Buddy Gentils, were in the kitchen when the fire started. They were visiting and waiting for Jason Nordberg to come home and work on Gentils’ car.
Just after Angela put a loaf of banana bread in the oven, Tracy noticed smoke. Angela turned on the fan and suddenly lots of smoke came in from the garage, she said.
About the same time they heard a loud popping noise behind the wall to the garage. Colbert said she knew that meant a fire. They exited the house.
“We were out in maybe 45 seconds, Colbert said.
Once out, William threw up the garage door and dark smoke boiled out, Angela said.
At that point the adults got the teen away, Colbert said.
Angela called 911, then her husband, who was at work at Les Schwab in Albany.
Of three vehicles in front of the house, only Angela’s was in working order. They got it away to a neighbor’s house. Gentils’ vehicle and Jason Nordberg’s Suburban remained by the garage, which held two ATVs and tools.
“We don’t know what happened to the cars, Colbert said.
As the family stood and watched the fire from across the street, friends, neighbors and strangers came up and offered hugs and help.
Family friends offered the kids places to stay and hang out.
A former teacher of the youngest daughter came to offer her support.
One woman, on hearing Angela Nordberg’s shoe size, went home and within 15 minutes was back with a pair of shoes. Angela had left the house barefoot.
Two volunteers from Fire Corps, formerly TIP, arrived to assist.
The house, which they own, is insured, Angela said.
The Linn County Assessor’s office lists the assessed value of the 1,360 square-foot, one story home and lot at $94,130, with a real market value of $150,890.
When firefighters arrived to the 5:52 p.m. alarm, they found heavy smoke from the eaves with flames showing from the back of the garage, Wilson said. Initially, the 28 firefighters attacked the fire defensively. As soon as they were able, they went inside to fight it offensively.
They were on the scene for three hours and 20 minutes, he said.
Wilson estimated the loss at $80,000 to the house and contents. The kitchen and roof were destroyed. Living areas were heavily damaged. Bedrooms in the back of the house weren’t burned but were damaged by water from fire hoses and rain during the night, he said, even though firefighters covered everything they could.
Wilson said dryer vent pipes should be unhooked periodically and cleaned out. A straight pipe is better than flexible pipe, and the more bends there are, the more problems.
http://lebanon-express.com/news/local/blaze-leaves-family-without-a-home/article_d75a08aa-b24a-11e0-b0cf-001cc4c03286.htm
