Firefighters from at least three departments battle an apartment fire in the 1900 block of Sherman Avenue in North Bend late Saturday night, June 14. North Bend requested mutual aid with engines and firefighters from Coos Bay and Coquille fire departments. Southbound traffic along Sherman (U.S. Highway 101) was re-routed around the fire scene. The American Red Cross is helping the burned-out residents.-World Photo by Lou Sennick

Twenty-one people lost their homes in a blaze that overwhelmed a two-story apartment building Saturday night in downtown North Bend.

Firefighters from North Bend, Coos Bay and Coquille spent about five hours battling the blaze. Although the fire injured no one, it displaced all the residents, said Jim Brown, North Bend’s assistant fire chief. He said the American Red Cross put the people up at a local hotel.

According to a North Bend Police Department press log, at about 9:09 p.m., a passerby reported that smoke had filled the building at 1934 Sherman Ave. and that it might be on fire.

Brown said 23 firefighters in four fire engines and a ladder truck arrived at the scene at approximately 9:11 p.m. The fire ignited at the bottom story of the seven-family apartment complex.

North Bend requested assistance from the Coos Bay and Coquille fire departments at 9:59 and 10:03 p.m. Brown said they provided 15 more firefighters and three additional fire engines.

“We had really good mutual aid from the other fire departments that were there,” Brown said.

At about 11:53 p.m., firefighters asked Pacific Power to cut electricity to the area because of concerns that high power lines above the building might be damaged by fire, sending live wires down onto the firefighters.

About 950 customers were affected by the planned shutoff, said Pacific Power spokesman Tom Gauntt. Power was restored at about 1:13 a.m.

Firefighters had difficulty controlling the flames and remained at the scene until 4 a.m. Security is standing watch over the scene until the Oregon state fire marshal can investigate today to determine the cause of the blaze.

“It was very challenging to get at the fire that was in the walls. Once it finally showed itself, we were able to get it out,” Brown said.

The building is believed to be a total loss, including its residents’ possessions.