Renter thanks neighbors and firefighters for getting him out of burning house
EASTSIDE COOS BAY, Ore.-- A house fire Thursday night has left a Coos Bay couple without a place to live.
According to the Coos Bay Fire Department, a passer-by called 911 to report that a house was on fire on South 4TH Street in Eastside Coos Bay.
Firefighters arrived to find the front of the house on fire, and the fire had spread to a living room, a press released stated.
KCBY caught up with Richard Henson, who was inside his home sleeping. He did not want to talk on camera, but described the situation to KCBY Reporter Ricky Maranon.
"I am so thankful for the person who called the fire department," Henson said. "I'm also very thankful for the people who told the fire department I was still inside asleep, and who forced me to wake up."
Since the front door of his house was on fire, Henson said he had to take an alternative route out.
"I opened the door to the room I was sleeping in, and then whoosh, I felt three hundred degree in my face," he said.
He was able to leave the property through a door on the otherside of the house.
According to the Coos Bay Fire Department, the house sustained $55,000 in damages, and despite the landlord of the home having building insurance, Henson and his girlfriend did not have rentors insurance.
"Most of the stuff in the back is O.K.," Henson said. "Just a lot of smoke got to it, but it's still good to use and keep."
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but fire officials say the fire had been burning unseen for a while before flames became visible.
According to the Coos Bay Fire Department, a passer-by called 911 to report that a house was on fire on South 4TH Street in Eastside Coos Bay.
Firefighters arrived to find the front of the house on fire, and the fire had spread to a living room, a press released stated.
KCBY caught up with Richard Henson, who was inside his home sleeping. He did not want to talk on camera, but described the situation to KCBY Reporter Ricky Maranon.
"I am so thankful for the person who called the fire department," Henson said. "I'm also very thankful for the people who told the fire department I was still inside asleep, and who forced me to wake up."
Since the front door of his house was on fire, Henson said he had to take an alternative route out.
"I opened the door to the room I was sleeping in, and then whoosh, I felt three hundred degree in my face," he said.
He was able to leave the property through a door on the otherside of the house.
According to the Coos Bay Fire Department, the house sustained $55,000 in damages, and despite the landlord of the home having building insurance, Henson and his girlfriend did not have rentors insurance.
"Most of the stuff in the back is O.K.," Henson said. "Just a lot of smoke got to it, but it's still good to use and keep."
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but fire officials say the fire had been burning unseen for a while before flames became visible.
