Central Coast Apartment Fire, March 27

Newport Fire Department was dispatched to a reported apartment fire Wednesday morning, March 26, shortly before 7:00 am. The original dispatch was for an apartment fire with flames showing at 405 NE 36th Street. The first arriving engine found heavy smoke and blacked out windows at a second story apartment. Initial action was to make sure the building was evacuated and attack the fire. NFD personnel did a complete search of the apartment, located a fire in the kitchen, and extinguished the fire. The residents had already left for work, but a cat was found who had been overcome by smoke. The cat was evacuated, resuscitated with oxygen, and transported to a local veterinary clinic. A follow up call indicates the cat is doing well under the Veterinarian’s care. Newport Fire Department responded with a fire engine, a ladder truck, a heavy rescue, a command vehicle, and 15 personnel. Pacific West Ambulance, Newport Police Department, and Depoe Bay Fire Department all assisted with this event. Newport Fire Department would like to remind the public to always check to make sure kitchen appliances are off before you leave home. Never leave operating cooking appliances unattended. Also check your smoke detector batteries – neighbors were alerted and woke up to this event because the smoke detectors in the apartment were alarming.