Fire at his back, firefighters cut through bars to save man
GRESHAM, Ore. – Firefighters freed a man from his burning mobile home Thursday night, but first they had to saw through metal bars on a window.
According to Gresham Fire Battalion Chief Mark Maunder, the man was trying to save his cats and got trapped in a bedroom.
"The message here if you got a fire in your house, you need to get out," he said. "This is an example where somebody tries to do what they think is right, and they get trapped in a back bedroom – almost cost him his life."
The fire started just before 7 p.m. at the Hogan Meadows Mobile Home Park just off Southeast Hogan and Palmquist roads.
There was another person in the mobile home but that person ran out when the fire started. But the man who was rescued ran to his bedroom, and then couldn't escape because of bars over the window.
Firefighters placed an air mask on the man so he could breathe as he poked his head out of the barred window. Then firefighters used chainsaws with special blades to cut through the bottom of the bars. They pried them up and then pulled the man out. It took about 30 seconds.
Firefighters say the fire started around the kitchen. The cause is under investigation.
The two occupants of the mobile home, neither of whom has been identified, were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
It is unknown at this time what happened to the cats.
 @bonedÂ
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I worked under the Vista before the BMW dealer took over the corner. It can get VERY nasty Think of splitting the guard rail....
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One word. Sprinkler system. Ok, that's two words.
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Sprinkler systems can now be part of the potable water system which reduces the cost significantly. I put one in my home and got a discount on my insurance. This would be especially important in the case of windows with non operable window bars.
@Kachina
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One thing all most as bad burning. Free fall off the Vista bridge. A very flat landing that will kill you.  I can't imagen changing your mind half way down.
 @WebFootSTi You should see what folks look like when they land on their feet after jumping. Any bar system for residential windows I have ever seen had a latch system installed in case of emergency.
Bars keep people out, but this is a good example of how they could keep you in when you need to get out. I can't imagine anything worse than burning to death because I put bars on my windows. So lucky the firefighters were able to get him out, kudos to them!
@whirledworld
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All bared windows should have a quick release so they can swing open. The bares themselves keep the latch from being compromised. Petty punks don't carry loud chainsaws with abrasive blades.
Glad my windows don't have bars. I'd try to get my kitties too, I'm sure.
Man that guy is so lucky that firefighters are so damn awesome. That would have been an awful way to die.
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*I would have tried to save my cat, too.
Bars over the windows? Unopenable bars? This is a bad idea. Put in an alarm system. I also worry about the people with the double deadbolt on their door, like my SIL who has 2 huge dogs (1 whom growls) that lunge at anyone coming in the door anyway and make passage near impossible to begin with.  Firefighters and life safety experts all know that when a fire or other emergency creates panic, people simply cannot find or operate keys, which is needed to get out locked barred windows or double deadbolts. A person who is panicked or overcome by smoke cannot operate a key. People die behind locked doors and locked barred windows. Your life is more important than your âvaluables.â
And especially pets! Stupid, stupid... but understandable; in a emergency situation people do things that if they could think rationally, they'd never attempt!
 @musiclover I totally disagree. Pets are like children. They rely on you to take care of them. In a situation like this, I would save my pets first then myself just as I would do for any child. They are a form of life just like humans. Kudos to this man for having the courage to save his "children" before himself. I hope they all are doing well.