Discover why neighbors in Hazelwood and Mill Park neighborhoods awoke to flames, smoke, and sirens – twice – on Wednesday night …
Engines, trucks, and water lines stretched across the pavement – Portland Fire & Rescue mounted an overnight response to separate house fires in Hazelwood and Mill Park, two miles apart, but just minutes apart on the clock.
Story and some photos by David F. Ashton
In the wee hours of Wednesday, June 24, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) responded to not one but two house fires, only about two miles apart, in the Hazelwood and Mill Park neighborhoods.
Both incidents drew a large number of PF&R resources, as well as mutual aid from Gresham Fire – but no human injuries were reported. Three dogs did not survive the Mill Park fire; a fourth was rescued and transported for veterinary care.
2:10 a.m.
Duplex fire in Hazelwood draws heavy response
Some of the four engines, two trucks, and the heavy rescue unit seen here on SE 108th Avenue near Stark Street, focused a major share of RR&R overnight resources on the Hazelwood duplex fire.
The first fire broke out just after 2 a.m. in a duplex on SE 108th Avenue near Stark Street in the Hazelwood neighborhood.
PF&R reported that multiple callers to the 9‑1‑1 dispatch center – including one from an occupant of the unaffected half of the duplex! – reported seeing flames and smoke erupting from the building.
The HazMat-style response brought four engines, two trucks, a heavy rescue squad, and two chiefs to the scene – adding up to 30 of the 171 on‑duty PF&R members working the whole city at that time. Many of the firefighters assigned to outer East Portland were there. Station 7, based in the Mill Park neighborhood, arrived first, with both its fire engine and truck company.
Crews immediately split tasks – some from the engine company established a critical water supply from a nearby hydrant, and stretched hose lines to the structure – while truck company personnel performed a 360‑degree “walkaround”, forcing entry to the structure as needed, and reported conditions to the incident commander.
This firefighter pulled gear off his rig, as crews from Station 7 and other PF&R units labored to fully extinguish the Hazelwood duplex fire – and then dig through clutter near the burn area.
Firefighters knock down a room fire
They found a small fire in a room at the back of the duplex and directed the attack line to the seat of the fire. PF&R reported heavy smoke, but relatively low heat – and firefighters quickly identified heavy clutter and light fuels throughout the home.
The fire was quelled, but – because of the amount of debris and household items near the burn area – firefighters had to remove much from the room to keep flames from extending further into the structure.
No injuries were reported in the Hazelwood duplex fire.
2:24 a.m.
Second fire, in Mill Park, involves entire home
Water supply lines snake down the Mill Park residential street as firefighting crews battle in the distance to beat back flames from the fully-involved home and protect neighboring houses. PF&R photo by Dennis Weis.
At 2:24 a.m., while crews were still working the Hazelwood duplex fire, dispatchers received a report of another residential fire – this one near the intersection of SE 141st Avenue and Main Street in the Mill Park neighborhood — roughly two miles away from the first fire.
With many East Portland units already committed to the first incident, responders to the second fire were dispatched from farther away than usual, including companies from Gresham Fire under mutual aid. PF&R conceded that “longer travel times can significantly affect outcomes, when seconds matter”.
Once the duplex fire was under control, the incident commander released all unassigned companies from Hazelwood to head for the Mill Park fire, leaving Engine 7 to finish operations at the first scene.
While some firefighters break through the front door of the blazing Mill Park home, other crew members cut open the garage door at the side to speed their attack and search for anyone who might be inside. PF&R photo
Heavy fire; reports of screaming
Radio traffic to incoming crews reported heavy fire from windows and the roof, along with multiple 9‑1‑1 calls from neighbors. Callers also mentioned “sounds of screaming” from inside and noted that a disabled adult relative often stayed at the home.
Those details prompted crews to prepare for a significant working fire with possible rescues. Even from a distance, the orange glow and smoke column – or “header” – made it obvious to the crews en route to it that this was was major fire.
Squad 12 arrived first at the Mill Park location, and confirmed that the home was completely involved. The “back‑seat” crew members immediately performed a 360‑degree assessment and attempted rescues as possible.
When additional companies from the first fire arrived – including a battalion chief who took command – crews went to work quelling the main body of fire and searching the home. With enough PF&R resources now present, the incident commander released the mutual-aid Gresham units to be available for other emergencies.
Crews outside the house focus their hose lines on flames venting from under the eaves, knocking down fire at the roof edge, while interior teams continue their work inside. PF&R photo
Three dogs lost, one saved
Crews initially focused on keeping the Mill Park fire from jumping to neighboring houses while reducing the heaviest fire so they could safely enter the structure. Once the incident commander determined it was safe enough to go inside, firefighters conducted primary and secondary searches with significant fire still present. They located three dogs which did not survive.
Firefighters found a fourth dog still alive, provided it oxygen, and took it to DoveLewis Animal Hospital for emergency care, transporting it on Rescue 31.
These firefighters yank down sections of the living room ceiling, searching for hidden hot spots overhead before they can flare back up. PF&R photo by Dennis Weis
Despite early worries that a victim might be inside, firefighters found no one during their searches, so they went door to door asking neighbors who usually stayed at the house. They were told that when the homeowner’s car was gone – as it was, that night – the owner and disabled relative were usually not home.
It took firefighters a half hour to quell the fire throughout the single-story ranch home. PF&R credited the quick work of crews released from the original Hazelwood duplex fire to have saved the houses on either side, and keeping those families from being displaced.
With most of the flames knocked down, crews begin the “overhaul” process of looking for hidden fire or embers. PF&R photo by Dennis Weis
The occupants of the home that burned will be assisted by the American Red Cross due to the loss of their residence. PF&R later mentioned that it was actually the DoveLewis staff, calling the homeowner to report they had his dog, who first notified him that his home had burned.
No human injuries; cause under investigation
PF&R reported no human injuries to residents or responders in either the Hazelwood duplex fire or the Mill Park house fire.
In total, 46 PF&R members were dispatched to the two incidents, with an additional eight Gresham Fire Department personnel responding on “mutual aid”, before being released as PF&R resources.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
