July 11--Firefighters are still dousing flames at an expansive woodworking business in Salem on Thursday, 24 hours after the fire first flared.
"I could see us being out here all day," said Deputy Fire Marshal John Stroebel.
The fire, reported at 10:30 p.m. at Elite Cabinets Plus, sent one firefighter to the emergency room and collapsed the metal roof on the 8,000-square-foot building at 4235 27th Court Southeast.
Stroebel said the firefighter, who was not identified, broke his hand. He was treated at Salem Hospital and released.
With the roof down, firefighters have been unable to fully snuff the flames. Stroebel said the focus this morning is on containment.
"We're hitting the hot spots as the fire peaks its head out from under the roof," he said.
The walls of the building need to be secured before firefighters can approach the structure and completely extinguish the blaze.
The fire was one of the worst in Salem in some time, Stroebel said. About 35 firefighters were called to the scene, arriving abut 10:35 p.m. When they got there, smoke was billowing out of the roof, Stroebel said. Within about 20 minutes, the roof collapsed, making it impossible for crews to get inside. The cabinet company had lots of fuel for the fire with wood and finished pieces inside as cans of lacquer, stains and paint created another hazard.
"They intensify the fire and make it harder for us to knock it down," Stroebel said.
On top of that, firefighters had to plug into multiple hydrants, which decreased overall water pressure.
The two ladder trucks and deck guns shot 1,750 gallons of water a minute at the blaze over a period of several hours.
"We're talking millions of gallons of water," Stroebel said.
The cabinet company is owned by Ricky Lee Wyatt, according to the listing on the Secretary of State's website. Stroebel said Wyatt was renting the building, built in the 50s.
Wyatt did not return a call seeking comment.
Fire investigators have not been able to assess damages, though Stroebel said the building is totaled, or determine the cause of the blaze.
-- Lynne Terry
Copyright 2013 - The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.
