OR Press:Fire kills animals, damages Canby store

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Posted by Desiree on February 03, 2002 at 20:49:55:

Fire kills animals, damages Canby store

02/03/02

CANBY -- An electrical device intended to keep an iguana warm malfunctioned Friday night, starting a fire that caused up to $750,000 damage to the 75-year-old Canby Farm, Garden & Pet store.

Canby Fire Chief Ted Kunze said the fire was started either by a heat lamp falling into wood chips inside the lizard's cage or by a heat rock in the enclosure that malfunctioned in some way.

In either case, the fire spread in the store's two-story office. A fire wall confined the flames to half the store, but heat and smoke caused extensive damage throughout the 10,000-square-foot building. The iguana died, as did numerous rabbits, birds and fish that were for sale, Kunze said.

The store is an active Canby business, carrying "a little bit of everything" for the home gardener or pet owner, he said. Owner Kirk Wade could not be reached for comment. The building was insured.

The fire was discovered by a Canby police officer who responded to a burglar alarm at the store shortly before 10 p.m. Friday. Kunze said there was no sign of a break-in, and it's not unusual for fire to set off alarms.

The store has metal walls and a metal roof, which trapped the heat and smoke. Kunze likened it to fighting a fire inside a tin can. He said the heat and smoke were so intense that firefighters had to back off rather than charge inside to fight the fire.

Eight fire districts provided help at the fire, with 75 firefighters responding aboard 14 engines. The store is at 23300 S. Highway 99E. -- Eric Mortenson

Fire kills animals, damages Canby store

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: : Fire kills animals, damages Canby store : 02/03/02 : : CANBY -- An electrical device intended to keep an iguana warm malfunctioned Friday night, starting a fire that caused up to $750,000 damage to the 75-year-old Canby Farm, Garden & Pet store. : : Canby Fire Chief Ted Kunze said the fire was started either by a heat lamp falling into wood chips inside the lizard's cage or by a heat rock in the enclosure that malfunctioned in some way. : In either case, the fire spread in the store's two-story office. A fire wall confined the flames to half the store, but heat and smoke caused extensive damage throughout the 10,000-square-foot building. The iguana died, as did numerous rabbits, birds and fish that were for sale, Kunze said. : The store is an active Canby business, carrying "a little bit of everything" for the home gardener or pet owner, he said. Owner Kirk Wade could not be reached for comment. The building was insured. : The fire was discovered by a Canby police officer who responded to a burglar alarm at the store shortly before 10 p.m. Friday. Kunze said there was no sign of a break-in, and it's not unusual for fire to set off alarms. : The store has metal walls and a metal roof, which trapped the heat and smoke. Kunze likened it to fighting a fire inside a tin can. He said the heat and smoke were so intense that firefighters had to back off rather than charge inside to fight the fire. : Eight fire districts provided help at the fire, with 75 firefighters responding aboard 14 engines. The store is at 23300 S. Highway 99E. -- Eric Mortenson

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