Keizer fire fighters save homes, goldfish

by Michael Rollins, KGW staff

kgw.com

Posted on August 14, 2010 at 12:58 PM

KEIZER -- Fire fighters Saturday morning put out twin fires in one call, and saved a a tank of goldfish.

Dispatchers sent engines to the 5200 block of 7th Avenue NE and arriving crews found a fire between two homes, said spokeswoman Anne-Marie Penge.

A neighbor had alerted the residents of one of the houses and Keizer police swept through the other home and found no one inside.

Flames in the first home were declared under control in about 23 minutes and the second home, about 30 minutes later, she said.

Inside one of the homes was a fishtank. Fire fighters removed fire debris from the tank, and added fresh water and oxygen.

The homeowner was extremely grateful for fire fighting and fish saving efforts, Penge said.

The fire caused about $90,000 in damage to structure of both homes and about $40,000 to the contents. Both homes were insured.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.