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Space heater blamed for fatal Ore. fire

The Columbian
Published: March 30, 2011, 12:00am

FOREST GROVE, Ore. (AP) — Firefighters in the Portland suburb of Forest Grove say a space heater caused the blaze that killed a 76-year-old woman and badly burned her teenage grandson.

Firefighters tell The Oregonian that Velvalee and Hyrum Long used a portable electric space heater to warm the room where they slept. The heater first ignited some clothing early Monday morning, then fire spread to a couch.

Hyrum Long reportedly heard the fire crackling when he was helping his wife to the restroom in the middle of the night. She used a wheelchair.

Fire officials say the woman was trapped in the bathroom and died there. Her husband and two grandsons escaped, but one of the boys was burned as he ran through flames to get out of the house.

Firefighters say the one smoke detector in the house wasn’t working.

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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com

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