Categories: Oregon News

Woman accused of arson, theft after Eugene house fire

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A person is facing arson charges in connection with an intense early-morning house fire in Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood on Friday, according to authorities.

Forty-year-old Leticia Datu-Strong, also known as Rickie Potts, was arrested on Friday and taken to Lane County Jail on three counts of first-degree theft and one count of first-degree arson in connection with the fire, according to Eugene police.

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No other details on Datu-Strong’s arrest were immediately available.

Eugene-Springfield Fire officials say crews were first alerted to the blaze on the 1000 block of West Third Avenue just after 1 a.m. by neighbors, who reported there was heavy fire coming through the home’s roof with possible victims inside.

When crews arrived, including four engines and a ladder truck along with two chiefs, they found “heavy fire involved and immediately went to work on the fire attack,” according to Eugene-Springfield Fire officials.

As more crews arrived on the scene, firefighters tried to enter the burning home to search for potential victims, but faced danger and had to withdraw from inside.

“During initial suppression and search operations, crews encountered high heat and zero visibility and it was determined there was too much fire involvement to safely operate inside,” Eugene-Springfield Fire officials said.

When most of the fire was knocked down, crews were able to re-enter the house to continue searching for potential victims, but found none.

The fire was eventually extinguished with zero injuries reported.

The investigation is ongoing.

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