News release CBFD. On August 12, at 10 a.m., the Coos Bay Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from the east end of the old McCauley Hospital located at 700 West Commercial Avenue. First arriving units found light smoke coming from a balcony on the south side of the structure, and they laddered the building to further investigate the source of the smoke. Personnel determined the smoke was coming from within a void space within the walls and quickly forced entry into the building to further determine the point of origin. Suppression personnel did not find active fire within the structure, and they did a complete search of the building to ensure there were no occupants. The fire was located within a wall of the balcony on the exterior of the structure, and it was extinguished within 20 minutes of arrival. An investigation into the cause of the fire has been conducted by the Coos Bay Fire Department, and it remains undetermined at this time. The Coos Bay Fire Department estimates the fire damage to the structure to be $250. It is unknown if owners of the structure have insurance on the building. A total of 14 firefighters, 2 engines, 1 ladder truck, 1 rescue, and 1 utility vehicle responded to the scene.
