Fire in Brentwood-Darlington ‘clutter house’ claims a life

Learn why a “Second Alarm” was called during this overnight fire in outer East Portland …

After spraying down the burning house from the outside, firefighters make their way into the burning structure. PF&R photo by Dennis Weis

By David F. Ashton

Several neighbors called the 9-1-1 Center when they saw flames erupting from a house at 7603 SE Flavel Street, early on Monday morning, August 27 – and, at 3:25 a.m., PF&R crews were dispatched to the home in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood.

After the fire burns through the fence, and impinges on the house next door, the Battalion Chief calls for a “Second Alarm” to bring in more firefighters and equipment. PF&R photo

First-arriving crews saw “heavy fire” in the single-family residence – and also, they saw, the westerly property line fence was ablaze, impinging on a second house. Now fighting two house fires, the PF&R Battalion Chief called for a “Second Alarm”, bringing additional rigs and crews to the scene.

First-alarm firefighters entered the first house and tried to extinguish the blaze, but found it burning too hot to remain inside – and pulled back the firefighters who then shot water into the structure from outside. Truck Company crews laddered up to the roof and cut holes to allow hot gasses and smoke to escape. Then, other firefighters were once again able to re-enter the house.

Inside the burning house, firefighters find a victim and rush him outside. PF&R photo

There, crew members reported by radio running into “hoarder conditions” which were slowing their search throughout the house. Not long after that, the interior firefighters found a male victim, estimated to be in his 40s. They rushed him outside but, even using advanced life saving measures, the man was declared dead at the scene.

In addition to being hindered by clutter inside the house, crews also had to deal with downed live power lines outside – and, also, the nearest fire hydrant turned out to be out of service, so crews had to move on to a different hydrant 300 feet away.

On the sidewalk, firefighter/paramedics try to resuscitate the fire victim, but without success. PF&R photo

Fire investigators spent the day sifting through charred remains of the structure and its contents seeking the location where the fire started, along with its cause. At last report, however, any conclusions they may have reached had not been publicly announced.

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