Roseburg, Oregon– On April 5, 2024, at 7:53 p.m., the Roseburg Fire Department responded to a distress call reporting a residential structure fire at 737 W. Wharton Street. The situation escalated as firefighters encountered heavy fire and smoke emanating from the left, front corner of the single-family home.
Upon arrival, firefighters were informed by a female resident that her husband remained trapped inside the engulfed structure. Fire crews immediately initiated a rescue operation. Amidst challenging conditions, they located the seventy-one-year-old male resident near the front of the house, unconscious. They then evacuated him through the front door and rushed him to a nearby hospital.
Despite medical efforts, the victim succumbed to his injuries, and medical personnel pronounced him deceased. Firefighters eventually extinguished the blaze and conducted thorough structural assessment and overhaul procedures.
The aftermath revealed significant structural, smoke, and water damage to the residence. An ongoing investigation, led by a fire investigator, seeks to determine the precise cause of the fire.
The collaborative response involved sixteen firefighters alongside multiple agencies, including Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Douglas County Fire District #2, Roseburg Police Department, Avista Utilities, and Pacific Power.In light of this unfortunate incident, the Roseburg Fire Department emphasizes the critical importance of functional smoke alarms.
They urge residents to ensure adequate coverage by installing alarms on every level of the home, outside each sleeping area, and within every bedroom. Additionally, they advocate for the consideration of home fire sprinkler systems to enhance safety measures.
The victim is not being named by authorities at this time.
Source: RFD
