Find out why no one was injured during this noontime fire in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood …
A Portland Fire & Rescue Truck 25 crew members begin to open the roof of a house experiencing an attic fire. Dick Harris, PF&R photo
By David F. Ashton
About noon on November 21, neighbors noted smoke coming from the roofline of a house at 9929 SE Boise Street, and called the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center.
Minutes later, crews from Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) Lents Station 11 and Woodstock Station 25 rolled up to the house.
“Arriving fire crews noted smoke from the homes attic. Firefighters began searching for the fire and for any occupants,” said PF&R Public Information Officer Lt. Damon Simmons.
Looking into the attic from the hole they cut in the roof, firefighters search for the seat of the fire. Dick Harris, PF&R photo
“Crews found the homeowners were away, but their dog was in a bedroom,” Simmons said.
Fire was, indeed found in the attic. “Firefighters kept the dog confined to a safe area while they fought the fire,” Simmons reported.
A PF&R Investigator determined that this fire’s cause was an electrical problem, said Simmons, and the blaze caused an estimated $21,000 in damages.
Crew members continue looking for remaining embers after the attic fire is extinguished. Dick Harris, PF&R photo
Disaster action team volunteers with the American Red Cross Cascades Region responded to the fire, and provided two adults and two children with lodging, food, infant supplies and formula, comfort kits, and information about disaster mental health and disaster health services.
“No injuries were associated with this fire,” Simmons said. He then added, “This home did not have working smoke alarms. When a fire breaks out, seconds count! You have less than three minutes to escape a house fire. All homes should have working smoke alarms.”
Contact PF&R’s smoke alarm hotline at 503-823-3752 for more information about how to install smoke alarms in your home.
© 2014 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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