FIRE-Big retirement facility fire/Grants Pass Oregon in 2003

This was a huge fire on Anderson between A & D. Some departments came from as far as 40 miles away. The second ladder truck was about 30 miles away. It went as well as could be expected. No lives were lost, No injuries were reported that I remember. Damage was in the millions. The building under construction was a soon to be retirement living center that was torched by a bored teenager (to summarize). It was all fuel. No suppression measures were in place yet (such as drywall, sprinklers, alarms, fire doors). As you can see GPFR attempted a trench cut on the roof of the occupied retirement center next door to keep the fire from spreading. But it didn't hold. The fire had spread through the attic above the sprinkler system and destroyed the roof and much of the third floor. Both buildings had to be rebuilt from scratch. Both buildings were 3 stories high. Grants Pass Fire could muster around 8 on duty Firefighters and one or two interns at the time. Rural/Metro another 8 or so including officers. Reserves and call backs accounted for 15 to 25 more firefighters before a task force from Jackson County made it over later in the morning. So with the help of law enforcement an evacuation of the elderly next door was a priority early on. It turned out to be the right decision as you can see later in the video.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Grants Pass Fire Rescue
• Rural Metro Josephine County
• Fire
• Task Force
• Josephine County
• Huge Fire
• 4 Alarm

[ravenwolf1952]

one very fine vid,i was with the city of grants pass during the 1980.s with the fire dept then the 90,s with the police dept,these were some of the finest people i ever knew,as i left in 99 ive found there are few i knew then who are still there neverless grants pass public safety remains in my heart and i salute them for there efforts and brave service on this fire and the countless other deeds they perform as the years go by,iam dam proud to say i belonged,

[JesWebb]

@ravenwolf1952 I probably worked with you a time or two in the my Valley Fire Days. The fire department side has seen quit a bit of growth in the last few years including three new Pierce engines. It's always good to hear from Alumni who haven't forgotten where they came from.

[truck501]

OUTSTANDING ........

[engine1957]

Looked like a great job with very professional communications!!! Be safe

[ravenwolf1952]

each time i watch this vid. iam amazed at the fury and heat this building produced. even now iam in awe'

[thejrfireman1]

they rebuilt that retirnment home and grants pass hasnt had a structure fire that bad yet

[ravenwolf1952]

@JesWebb jess,most likly we did indeed,i knew joe henner and rich clark very well back then,worked with richys dad,he was one fine guy' i think valley in its hey day was a huge asset to the county as well being there was only ,rural then,iam 58 now and not in the best of health,living in south texas far from my home,i miss grantspass and those days of a by gone era,cant tell you haow many times i climbed that old lafrance ladder truck,thanks for your comments and insight,stay safe, my freind,