Firefighters awaken teen in burning home - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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Firefighters awaken teen in burning home Fire engines packed West Jackson Street Monday night during a response to a house fire. Photo courtesy of Medford Fire-Rescue Tuesday Oct 25, 2016 at 8:58 AM Oct 25, 2016 at 3:51 PM Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune @RyanPfeil Medford firefighters rousted a sleeping teenager in a burning house Monday evening and led him to safety. Medford Fire-Rescue crews saw heavy fire and smoke coming from the attic of a single-story house at 311 W. Jackson St. after the fire was reported at 6:45 p.m., according to a news release. Some occupants already had made it out and told fire crews one person was still inside. The teen had not been awakened by the commotion of family members fleeing. "The initial report of a victim inside the home initiated a second alarm, bringing additional engines from Jackson County Fire District No. 3," the news release said. In all, seven engines from the two agencies responded, along with three command vehicles. Firefighters found the sleeping teenage boy in a back bedroom. He exited the house unassisted and did not require medical attention. Fire officials said the house lacked working smoke detectors. Battalion Chief Rick Rohrbough said firefighters had the upper hand on the fire in about 20 minutes. The blaze was fully extinguished in about an hour. The fire caused about $50,000 in damage to the home. The cause is not confirmed, but investigators think it started in the chimney and worked its way into the attic. "(We're) eyeing the fireplace at this point," Rohrbough said.   Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil.