Learn what firefighters were up against, extinguishing this outer East Portland blaze …
When crews arrive, they find a fiercely-burning fire in the garage of this house.
By David F. Ashton
Images courtesy Portland Fire & Rescue
Neighbors reporting fire and smoke from a house at SE 151st Avenue at Tibbetts Street dispatched Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) crews to the endangered residence in the Centennial neighborhood, just before noon on Sunday, April 2.
The first PF&R crews, arriving at 11:32 a.m. that Sunday morning, reported back to dispatchers seeing a large volume of fire erupting from the attached garage of the house.
Firefighters pull their water lines in and prepare to fight the blaze.
“The electrical power line to the house had caught fire and dropped from the house,” PF&R Public Information Officer Lieutenant/Fire Inspector Rich Tyler told East Portland News. “It was lying in the driveway, which was an electrocution danger to the firefighters.”
Fire spread from the garage onto the siding up and into a second floor bedroom above the garage, severely reducing visibility for firefighters inside as they searched the house for potential victims.
“All of the residents were able to get outside safely, and no injuries were reported,” Lt. Tyler said.
Within minutes, the fire has been substantially knocked down.
“Firefighters were able to keep the fire primarily inside the garage, and got it fully under control just 21 minutes after arrival,” the PF&R spokesperson added.
Due to the damage to the garage and second floor of the house, the family of five living there was displaced. They were helped in finding temporary lodging by the Red Cross.
“The cause of the fire is still under investigation,” Lt. Tyler said.
© 2023 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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