Smoke Signals January 1990 Page 7
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This Volkswagon was one of the items lost in the blaze.
"GRAND RONDE
RESIDENT LOSES BARN IN
FIRE"
Grand Ronde residents Ed and Herta Smith lost their
family barn in a fire December 6th. Herta Smith
descovered the barn in flames around 9:00 a.m. after
hearing a loud boom in the back yard.
According to Firemen, the barn was fully engulfed in
flames by the time they arrived. "It seemed like it took
forever for the fire department to get here, but I'm sure
glad they were here to help us," said Mrs. Smith.
The loud booms that alerted Mrs. Smith to the fire
apparently came from a number of oxygen and propane
tanks used for welding according to Mr. Smith. "I was
working late making jewerly boxes for the kid's Christ
mas presents on the table saw," explained Smith. "The
saw kicked itself off around 2:00 a.m., so I went to bed."
Smith figures that the saw must have shorted out after
he went in to the house and sent a spark into the dry
sawdust around the saw.
Tribal member Cory Mcneley, who was getting ready
to wrestle at Willamina High School, was one of the first
volunteer fire fighters to arrive at the scene. He said
that the structure "burned really hot" and that "there
wasn't much left when we got here."
Ed and Herta's daughter Bev Smith has worked for
and is very close to the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde and we extend our sympathy to the Smith family.
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The Smith's camper was destroyed in the fire.
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Grand Ronde resident Ed Smith looks at the damage with firefighters- including Tribal member Cory Mcneley.
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Volunteer fireman Cory Meneley takes a break from the action after the fire was brought under control.