St. Helens Apartment Fire Contained by St. Helens Police

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2022

St. Helens, Ore. - On Thursday, October 20, 2022, at approximately 10:41 p.m., St. Helens officers responded to the report of a fire at the St. Helens Place Apartments at 700 Matzen Street, K Building, St. Helens, Oregon. Police were first to arrive on scene and found a fire contained to a second- and third-floor patio.

Officers immediately began evacuating residents from the building while additional officers arrived on scene with fire extinguishers and began fire suppression efforts. After officers evacuated the building, they began working together to continue fire suppression efforts until the fire appeared to be out.

Columbia River Fire and Rescue arrived on scene and conducted a building inspection to ensure the fire was fully suppressed and had not reached the building’s attic. After conducting an investigation, it was determined that the fire was unintentionally caused by a discarded cigarette.

No injuries were reported from the incident, and no criminal charges are currently under consideration.

Columbia River Fire and Rescue would like to remind you of the following safety tips:

• It is better to smoke outside because furniture, bedding and papers inside the home can catch fire from burning cigarettes.
• Keep a sturdy ashtray or bucket of sand handy for smokers.
• Smoke only when you are alert. If you take medicine or get sleepy, don’t smoke.
• Never smoke near anyone who uses medical oxygen. If a fire starts, the oxygen will cause it to burn hotter and faster. There is no safe way to smoke when oxygen is in use.

For additional fire safety information, contact Columbia River Fire & Rescue.

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For further information regarding this press release, please contact St. Helens Communications Officer Crystal King at cking@sthelensoregon.gov.