Early-morning fire damages two NW Redmond homes, traced to disposal of used legal fireworks near combustibles

(Update: More info from fire marshal; fireworks were legal, both homes uninhabitable)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Disposal of used, legal fireworks in an area with combustibles sparked a fire early Friday morning that caused "significant" damage to two homes in northwest Redmond, a fire official said.

Redmond Fire & Rescue crews and were dispatched around 1:30 a.m. to a possible structure fire in the 2100 block of Northwest Redmond Avenue, Fire Marshal and Public Information Officer Tom Mooney said.

Police were first on scene and advised dispatchers that two homes were heavily involved in fire, Mooney said.

Firefighters arrived and found heavy fire on the exterior of one home, spreading to a second, the fire marshal said.

Crews quickly attacked the blaze and brought it under control. Mooney said both homes were searched and they confirmed everyone had escaped safely.

“Cause of the fire was disposal of used fireworks into an area that contained combustibles,” Mooney said in a news release.

“This is a good reminder to ensure your home’s smoke alarms are working properly and that your family has an escape plan and has practiced it,” he added.

The fireworks that sparked the blaze  “were Oregon-legal fireworks,” Mooney said. “They said they cleaned them up, put them in a placed bag – they soaked them in water, I don’t know how well. They took the plastic bag and put them behind a wooden fence on the side of the house,” where there were combustible items such as garbage cans.

“Plastic trash cans are famous for catching fire,” he said. “If you’re going to use legal fireworks, put them in a bucket, fill with water and leave it at the curb.”

Mooney said the fire had left both homes uninhabitable, and the American Red Cross was contacted to provide disaster relief assistance to the residents. A damage figure was not yet available.

“The fire went up the exterior of the wall, and went into the attic, so then we have to pull sheetrock” to put out the blaze, he explained.

The challenge and problem with newer homes, Mooney said, is they are built so close to each other, once one goes, it radiates heat” that can ignite the neighboring structure.