Heavy damage to vintage Oregon home
Those residing in a vintage home in Hillsboro, Oregon, were able to evacuate without injury as flames tore through their home on Sunday.
Firefighters arrived on the scene to find flames coming from the home's garage, carport and kitchen. A propane tank from a grill outside also exacerbated the fire. It took five fire trucks and more than two dozen firefighters to extinguish the blaze.
Officials said the residents did have homeowners insurance on the property. The residents have said they will stay with family in the immediate future. Officials estimate that the damages to the 1950s 1,200-square-foot home and its contents will likely top $75,000.
While it's unknown exactly how the fire may have started, residents told investigators that they first noticed smoke coming from the home's carport and heard a "whoosh" before they quickly evacuated the property.
Residential fires are a significant cause of both injuries and losses in the colder months of the year. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there were more than 350,000 fires in 2009, resulting in more than 2,400 deaths and $7.2 billion in damage.
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