Smoky fire at market quickly doused

Firefighters from the Corvallis Fire Department responded early Friday morning to a small fire downtown at the Water Street Market, 151 N.W. Monroe Ave. When they arrived at 1:15 a.m., they found that someone had put out the fire with a fire extinguisher.

Fire Prevention Officer Carla Pusateri of the CFD said the fire apparently started from an extension cord that was too close to an industrial oven. Heat from the oven damaged the cord, which then shorted out, welding a hole in the oven and igniting a box that was on the cord.

Damage was minor, Pusateri said.

Tell us where to see holiday light displays

The Gazette-Times is requesting addresses of houses decorated with holiday lights for a Holiday Lights Tour map. If you would like your home included, please send your address to news@gtconnect.com or call 758-9524.

Coast Guard grounds 3 Oregon crab boats

PORTLAND - The U.S. Coast Guard has grounded three of the 433 vessels in Oregon's commercial crab fleet this week, citing safety violations.

On Thursday the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Fir boarded the Orca near Yaquina Bay and found insufficient immersion suits for the crew. It sent the boat back to port under escort.

Immersion suits provide flotation and protection from cold water.

The vessels Thora-S and Sunset were also boarded and their voyages were ended.

Violations included expired emergency position indicating radio beacons, expired distress signals and expired life rafts and batteries.

The commercial Dungeness crab season, Oregon's most valuable fishery, opened Dec. 1.

UO economist says outlook bleak

SALEM - A University of Oregon economist says a recovery from the recession is unlikely until the middle of next year, and the outlook until then is bleak.

Timothy Duy told a forum in Salem this week that the economy is entering the heart of a recession, with some of the worst numbers starting to come in.

Duy said consumers and businesses will continue to rein in spending, the unemployment rate will rise, and the credit crunch will intensify. Not only are banks more reluctant to make loans, Duy said, but also consumers are trying to lower their debt and won't be eager to ask for them.

He says the housing market was strong in the previous recession, but isn't likely to lead the economy out of this one.

- Staff and news services