A fatal fire in Cherry Grove earlier this week has claimed the life of a local resident. According to a Facebook post by Gaston Rural Fire District, crews were dispatched to the reported structure fire at approximately 3:58 AM. They arrived to find a fully-involved modular home with fire visible from the front door. Furthermore, there was an initial concern for the safety of two people presumed to be inside the burning structure.
Neighboring fire departments rapidly responded to assist with the blaze. Among those lending support were Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, Cornelius Fire Department - Oregon, Yamhill Fire - Station 4, and Hillsboro Water. The efforts extended to traffic control managed by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and medical stand-by provided by AMR Multnomah and Clackamas Counties. Despite the rapid response and neighborly efforts to alert the residents, firefighters were unable to locate one occupant until after the fire was extinguished. In an unfortunate turn of events, "the lone resident of the home was found deceased," the Gaston Rural Fire District reported.
The subsequent investigation into the cause of the fire, assisted by the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Oregon State Police, has ruled out foul play. The Gaston Rural Fire District continued the investigation alongside detectives from the Washington County Sheriff's Office. As news of the tragic incident spread, local residents have offered assistance to the family of the deceased. The fire department, respecting the family's privacy, has communicated that the family "have not requested assistance at this time" and implores the public to allow them to grieve peacefully.
