FBI investigating ‘suspicious’ Warm Springs house fire that seriously injured 2

Men rescued by Warm Springs police, being treated at Portland hospital

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) – The FBI has joined the investigation into a house fire late Sunday night that seriously injured two Warm Springs men, a police investigator said Tuesday.

The men were flown to a Portland hospital with serious injuries after they were found unconscious and rescued by Warm Springs Tribal Police from their burning home late.

Police were dispatched around 11 p.m. Sunday to the reported residential fire on Foster Street, Police Chief Bill Elliott said.

Officers arrived to find fire and billowing smoke coming from the home and were notified by a community member people might still be inside.

Warm Springs officers Caleb Saulo, Brandon Durbin and Conservation Officer Alex Esselstrom entered the burning home and were able to locate the two residents, Harold Brown and Lamont Brown, unconscious inside. Elliott said.

Once the two men were brought out of the home, officers began administering CPR. With the help of fellow Officer Derek Domhoff, they provided emergency medical aid until Warm Springs Tribal Fire Department crews arrived, took over medical care and took the men to a local hospital.

They were later flown to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, where a representative confirmed they were receiving care Monday night but had no word on their condition.

Warm Springs Police Lt. Joshua Capehart told NewsChannel 21 Tuesday, "The fire is suspicious in nature, but we are not able to confirm if it was in fact an arson at this time" as the investigation is still underway.

Capehart said he could not speak to the condition of the victims, out of respect for the family.

Elliott said the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office also is involved in the investigation, as they are any house fire with injuries.