December 2, 2024 10:40 a.m.  

A commercial structure fire and a secondary fire that took place early Monday morning are still under investigation.

A Roseburg Fire Department release said at approximately 2:45 a.m. personnel responded to a reported small transient fire next to a building in the 1600 block of West Harvard Avenue. A caller said the fire was close to a commercial structure located on the property.

Fire Chief Tyler Christopherson said firefighters arrived on the scene to find an active fire on the exterior portion of the commercial structure, which had extended to the interior portion of the building. Christopherson said the commercial structure houses multiple businesses, although the fire occurred at the portion of the building occupied by Harvard Shoe Repair. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and stopped the forward spread of the fire to the remaining portion of the commercial structure. Christopherson said firefighters completed a search of the building and determined that no occupants were inside the structure at the time of the fire.

The release said while firefighters were handling containment of the fire, a secondary fire was reported at a dumpster in the 1700 block of West Harvard Avenue. Firefighters with Central Douglas Fire and Rescue located the fire and assisted with extinguishing it.

Harvard Shoe Repair sustained structural, smoke, and water damage. Firefighters remained on the scene to complete overhaul. Christopherson said ten firefighters assisted with firefighting operations.

Other agencies assisting at the scene included Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Roseburg Police Department, Avista Utilities and Pacific Power.