Editors Note: Photos in the gallery above are from the scene and shot but Hillsboro photographer Aaron Andersen; follow Aaron at https://www.instagram.com/a_dad_with_a_cam/
While we have committed at the Hillsboro Herald not to focus our coverage on stories that “bleed” we have determined that when events happen that affect safety we will cover them. This story is one such event.
A fire was set intentionally last night at the Carnegie Library on the corner of 2nd and Lincoln (209 NE Lincoln) according to the Hillsboro Fire Departments Public Information officer. The fire started last at 1:30 AM and was called in after a maintenance man working in the building heard a loud explosion.
The fire came from the storage unit in the back of the building and neighbors reported tall flames climbing up the back of the building. That appears to be the case as per ur onsite investigation this AM. The all-brick building was likely to have survived but fire is always dangerous once it jumps into the frame or roof of the building.
Thankfully no one was injured. The Hillsboro Police are working in conjunction with the Hillsboro Fire investigators to follow any leads and try to track down information as to who started this fire. The explosion was a beer or saki container from the looks of it and clearly could have injured someone standing nearby.
The old building is one of the finest in Hillsboro and is protected as a Cultural Resource under city codes.
Wikipedia States: The first library in Hillsboro opened on December 9, 1914, when the Carnegie City Library was dedicated.[3] This was one of 2,500 plus libraries built by money donated by Andrew Carnegie around the world, and the only public one in Washington County, Oregon (the Carnegie Library at Pacific University was a private, academic library).[4] The land at Northeast Second and Lincoln Streets where the library was built was donated to the city.[5][6] Designed by architect Ernest Kroner, the $10,000 building was constructed by the firm Book & Engeldinger.[3]
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsboro_Public_Library
If you want a Hillsboro Herald bonus, expand your knowledge of our Community history by watching this interactive video from the head of the Historical Society in Hillsboro. We are so happy this old building is going to be ok!
