Posted: Friday, August 8, 2008 12:00 am
Granddaughter injured, dog killed in nighttime blaze
BY MICHAEL BOOTH
GAZETTE-TIMES REPORTER
ALPINE - An elderly woman was injured in a fire Wednesday that left a large family homeless and killed one of their dogs.
The single-wide mobile home at 25447 Alpine Road was destroyed. It's owned by Lauren Bowman, and it had been the residence of at least eight people, neighbor Peter Prychodzki said.
"His mother-in-law is elderly and bed-ridden," he said. "Lauren carried her out, and she had to be taken to the hospital."
Prychodzki said Bowman's 14-year-old granddaughter was injured as she fled the house when she was struck by an aerosol bottle that was propelled by the fire's intense heat. Prychodzki did not know how the girl was doing on Thursday.
Monroe firefighter Terri Walters confirmed that three people had been taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center by a Corvallis Fire Department ambulance. One was held for observation and two others were released.
The fire, which was reported about 11:34 p.m., killed the Bowmans' Rotweiller and singed their pug dog, Prychodzki said.
Walters said the state Fire Marshal's Office is sending a team to investigate the cause of the fire.
Walters and Prychodzki said that Bowman did not have homeowners' insurance, and the house and its contents were a total loss.
The American Red Cross supplied the family with temporary trailers to live in. Prychodzki and his wife, Debra, brought the family some food, clothing and blankets. He said that he hopes local businesses and residents will pull together to help Bowman and his family get back on their feet.