NEWBERG, Ore. — A fire at 1st Choice Moreno Tires on the west side of downtown closed Oregon 99W for three hours Sunday, Sept. 14.

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Around 5:26 p.m., Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue received calls reporting heavy black smoke in the 400 block of West First Street, according to public information officer Corrine Haning. Crews from TVF&R and Dundee Fire arrived to find pressurized smoke coming from all sides of the building and began working to extinguish the blaze.

PGE Crews work to repair a downed power line at the 1st Choice Moreno Tire Fire in Newberg, Ore. on Sept. 14. (Photo courtesy Paul Otto)

Firefighters also had to navigate a downed power line caused by the fire.

The building sits about 25 feet from the highway, prompting TVF&R to contact the Newberg-Dundee Police Department and close all lanes of 99W while crews fought the fire. Portland & Western Railroad was also notified and temporarily shut down the nearby rail line.

The fire was largely contained within 30 minutes, with crews targeting hot spots and conducting cleanup afterward. Firefighters cleared the scene at 8:43 p.m.

Investigators determined a failed electrical panel caused the fire, said TVF&R public information officer Stefan Myers.

Eliseo Moreno, owner of 1st Choice Moreno Tires, said he learned about the fire after a neighbor called him around 5:30 p.m. Speaking through a translator, he said he has not yet been able to assess the damage because he was not allowed inside the building as of press time. He rents the building to operate the tire shop, which has one employee. 1st Choice Moreno Tires Newberg is temporarily closed, but Moreno said he hopes to reopen soon.

1st Choice Moreno Tires has locations in Newberg and McMinnville. According to the McMinnville location’s Facebook page last updated April 2020, the business sells used tires, new tires, and brakes.