Fire rips through Centennial apartment; one critically burned

A quick response under difficult circumstances kept this morning outer East Portland fire from destroying the entire apartment complex …

Slogging through ice, snow, and slush on 152nd Avenue, firefighters manage to reach this apartment blaze.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

It’s unclear who alerted Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) to the second-floor, corner-unit blaze in the Kimberly Court Apartments, at 2415 S.E. 152nd Avenue, on Sunday morning, February 26.

Nevertheless, PF&R crews responded there at 8:05 a.m. that snowy morning – nine units from five fire stations, plus an ambulance.

Crews battle the blaze, saving the entire apartment complex from destruction. PF&R image by Greg Muir

A crew member from PF&R Mill Park Station #7’s Engine Company reported seeing thick smoke rising from the burning apartment as they approached – but, in the snowy slush, their rig had to first travel east on SE Division Street, pass the street, and then make a U-turn around the newly-installed concrete center-street barrier, in order to reach their location.

“Upon arrival, crews found an apartment with heavy fire on the second floor,” PF&R Senior Fire Inspector and Public Information Officer Terry Kimmons told East Portland News.

This firefighter extinguishes fire up and under the eaves of the apartment building. PF&R image by Greg Muir

“With a quick attack, the fire was extinguished by the crews,” Kimmons said. “A patient was found with critical burns, and was transferred to an ambulance to be taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.”

This firefighter is making certain the fire has been completely extinguished.

By quickly dousing the flames, and then carefully making sure the fire was completely extinguished, firefighters likely prevented the structure from burning to the ground. However, there was water damage to the first floor apartment under the burned unit.

A fire investigator was called to investigate the cause – which, at this time, has not been revealed.

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