A two-alarm structure fire about two miles south of Seaside closed US Highway 101 Thursday night for hours and added additional strain for first responders on one of the busiest periods each year for fire and police on the North Coast.
Seaside Fire & Rescue responded to a report of a house fire near the rock quarry at 84937 Hwy 101 at approximately 8:58 p.m. on Thursday, July 4. Responders found a fully-engulfed single-story home upon arrival. The highway was closed in both directions at 9:04 p.m. and remained fully closed until flaggers were able to open one lane to alternating traffic. Crews knocked the fire down by 9:57 p.m. and the highway was reopened to all traffic just before midnight.
During incidents like these, and especially during busy holiday periods, Seaside Fire receives crucial mutual aid from Gearhart, Cannon Beach, Knappa Svensen Burnside, Astoria, Lewis & Clark, Warrenton, Hamlet, Elsie-Vine Maple and Olney Walluski. Nehalem Bay Fire & Rescue from Tillamook County also assisted. Cannon Beach Police were on-scene directing traffic until Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Transportation officials arrived. Red Cross coordinated care for the displaced homeowner. There were no injuries reported.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined while an investigation continues.
Just after midnight on Friday, July 5, firefighters responded to another report of a structure fire – originally reported as a shed in flames but quickly determined to be a commercial dumpster – at 2481 Hwy 101 on the north side of Seaside. Fire crews also extinguished multiple other small blazes throughout the holiday period due to dumpster and trash can fires and smoldering logs on the beach.
In addition to fires, rescue crews responded to four motor vehicle accidents and several medical calls, including falls and illness, during this period.
Seaside Police noted 77 points of contact throughout the holiday and an additional 23 by 5 a.m. on Friday morning. Officers responded to fireworks, parking and traffic complaints and recorded incidences of Disturbances, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, and one instance of Eluding an officer.
The City of Seaside wishes to thank emergency dispatchers and all responders and public works crew who worked around the clock to keep everyone safe and services running as smooth as possible with the large number of holiday visitors. The City also wishes to thank those – both residents and holiday-goers – who participated in Seaside’s annual July 5 cleanup to restore the beach.
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