Outside the fourplex at 328 Ferry St. S.W., where the fire is believed to have started. (The Carnegie Library is visible in the background at left.)
The two-story building with four apartments at Ferry Street and Fourth Avenue in downtown Albany has stood there for 76 years. A fire nearly destroyed it on the Fourth of July, but the owners say they will rebuild.
The fire erupted just before 10 p.m. Monday. Albany firefighters responded with several units. Tangent and Corvallis also responded after a second alarm. Together their efforts saved much of the building.
The fire department has not said anything about the cause. But as I understand it, people had celebrated the Fourth with fireworks on the lawn behind the building and then disposed of the spent devices near the structure. The fire pattern on the back porch and wall support that as the cause.
All the tenants made it out of the building. On Tuesday afternoon, some of them were inside going through their things and salvaging what they could. Later, the structure was to be boarded up.
The building was constructed around 1945, according to the Linn County assessor and the city of Albany’s “inventory of historic properties.”
It’s next to the city’s Carnegie Library and kitty-corner from the Linn County Courthouse. The inventory calls it a “historic contributing” structure of the colonial style in the Monteith Historic District.
The late Roger Reid bought the property in 1972, and it has remained in his family since.
The owners for the last six years, Richard and Liisa Reid, say the fire department has told them the building walls and other main components remain structurally sound.
They plan to rebuild it, though it’s too early to say how big a job that will be. (hh)
Contemplating the damaged building from the corner of Ferry and Fourth on Tuesday afternoon.
So sad someones careless firework disposal caused this and so much trauma to all those who live there All the best to the folks getting back on their feet and hope they find and press charges against the ones responsible!
I’m willing to bet that the responsible party was one of those who were “traumatized”.
Thank you Mark…this was a tragic accident. Instead of being vindictive and pressing charges, come together as a community to rebuild the historic building, then rally for better fireworks safety.
I said nothing about “pressing charges”. As far as fireworks safety, common sense goes a LONG way.