Emergency Services responds to Willamina fire

At approximately 11:30 p.m. Monday, March 31, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Emergency Services crews were gathered at Spirit Mountain Casino, along with Grand Ronde Tribal Police and SMC staff to take part in an active shooter training at the casino.

Just before midnight, Emergency Services crews were dispatched to a fire in the 200 block of First Street in Willamina, interrupting the training. Upon arrival, crews found a fully involved vehicle fire with fire extending to a nearby structure. Crews quickly extinguished the car fire and worked rapidly to force entry into the building to minimize damage.

The structure was a commercial building with wood framing, and metal roofing and siding. This type of construction is known to hold heat and can complicate extinguishment, according to an Emergency Services social media post about the incident. Crews were on the scene for about 2.5 hours, ensuring the fire was completely extinguished before being cleared.

“I am proud of the crews, not only for their quick response to the fire mitigating extensive loss, but also for the amount of training the crews continually put in to ensure they are providing the best service to the community as possible,” Emergency Services Chief Steve Warden said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. In the post, Emergency Services thanked the Sheridan Fire District, Grand Ronde Tribal Police, Oregon State Police and Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance on scene.