Man Sets Fire, Shoots At Responding Firefighters In Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, OR — A 60-year-old Springfield man shot and killed himself Wednesday morning after reportedly starting a residential fire and then shooting at firefighters as they began to arrive at the scene. Three homes burned to the ground as a result of the delayed firefighting response caused by the shooting, according to The Register-Guard.

No firefighters or neighborhood residents were reportedly injured in the shooting, and no motive has been given for why the unidentified man set the first fire and waited to ambush responding fire crews. The investigation is on-going.

The incident, which was described as "highly unusual" and "dynamic" by police officials, began around 4 a.m. in a residential area north of the city's downtown — and only about 200 feet from Eugene Springfield Fire Station 5, The Register-Guard reported.

As firefighters began setting up their equipment to battle the blaze, the man reportedly opened fire, striking a fire truck windshield several times. He was later found dead in the front yard of a fourth home, the victim of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Six people and one pet have reportedly been displaced because of the fires.

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Click here to read The Register-Guard's complete report

Image via Renee Schiavone/Patch