Hamster Survives Blaze Caused by Fireworks

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A Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue investigator has determined that fireworks were the most probable cause of a 4th of July evening fire that destroyed a home in Beaverton. Early this afternoon, the family hamster emerged from the rubble unharmed.

On July 4th at 11:05 pm, TVF&R firefighters were called to a house fire at 11750 SW Crater Loop in Beaverton. The first arriving unit found two vehicles burning in the driveway and heavy fire to the front of the home and spreading into the attic. Approximately 25 firefighters responded to the scene and brought the fire under control in approximately 20 minutes. Crews also protected at least one neighboring home that was threatened by the extreme heat from the fire.

The occupants from the house, a family with two children, escaped unharmed and are staying with friends and family. Neighbors reported that there were fireworks being discharged in the area shortly before the fire.

After a thorough investigation of the fire scene, a TVF&R investigator has determined that fireworks were the most probable cause of the fire. The home sustained more than $150,000 in damage.

Hours after the fire was extinguished, a family friend discovered the family hamster, "Hammy", alive in the rubble.

Between the hours of 8:00 pm and 1:08 am on the Fourth of July holiday, TVF&R crews responded to approximately 14 fires. These fires included burning bushes, a deck attached to a home, several roofs, a vehicle, and two homes. Many of these fires were back-to-back and included the same crews, including those that responded to a roof fire at 7865 SW 184th Avenue in Aloha, minutes before the Crater Loop fire, and another house fire at 1:08 am, at 5518 SW Norris Terrace in Aloha.



Author:Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Press Release