Habitat loses building tools in early morning blaze; Firefighters stop fire's spread
Firefighters work on mopping up at the structure fire behind the ReStore at 1001 W. Sixth Street, The Dalles this morning, Oct. 24.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Oct. 24, 2024 — An early morning fire in The Dalles grew from a brush fire to a shed fire to a fully engulfed structure fire at the storage space behind the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 1001 W. Sixth Street this morning.
The storage buildings, owned by Gary Copper, abut the Fred Meyer Gas Station on Cherry Heights Road.
The fire was first called out at 6 a.m. and was reported as a brush fire.
However, once the severity of the blaze was understood a call out for mutual aid from other fire departments was made, bringing help from Dufur Volunteer Fire Department and the Hood River Fire Department to assist in the major structure fire.
Hood River Firefighters pick up this morning outside of Sherwin Williams after assisting in the fire behind the ReStore on Sixth Street.
It was estimated that some 35 firefighters were on the scene fighting the blaze.
Flames were fully engulfing the north side of the storage building as firefighters poured water on it.
Large yellow fire hoses were running along Sixth street from a fire plug and up to where the fire was burning. Sixth Street was blocked off between Safeway and the Barbeque Restaurant.
Firefighters were mopping up the blaze by 8 a.m, after stopping the fire’s progression before it got into the main portion of Habitat’s storage facility and thrift store.
No one was injured during the blaze, reported Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Chief Bob Palmer.
“We got it stopped and saved the business,” he said, noting the fire could have been much worse if it had reached into the main storage area and store. “This is all recoverable.”
Habitat Executive Director Chad Krause said Habitat lost all its house construction tools during the blaze, which were stored in a 12-foot section of the burned storage facility.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, Palmer said.
Sixth Street between Safeway and the Barbecue Restaurant was blocked off this morning as firefighters worked at the scene.
