A massive two-alarm fire at a St. Helens, Ore., tire store this past weekend closed part of a highway and cut power to some 800 customers.
The fire at the Les Schwab Tire Centers in the city broke out on the afternoon of Aug. 24, and wasn’t extinguished, according to reports, until the following day.
No one was injured, fire officials said, but a section of nearby Highway 30 was closed, forcing transit buses to detour, as well as disrupting a charity foot race. The power company cut the electricity to the area until the blaze was brought under control.
In an official statement issued by the tire dealership, Les Schwab said: “The Les Schwab Tire Center in St. Helens suffered extensive fire and water damage yesterday from a fire that broke out around 4 p.m. All customers and employees were safely evacuated and there were no injuries.
“The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. We understand that the fire began outside the store and then spread to the interior. The fire was contained within approximately two hours and continues to be monitored.”