Prompt action by firefighters kept this blaze from destroying two outer East Portland residences …
Portland Fire & Rescue crews arrive to battle a fire at the back of this Glenfair duplex. PF&R image
By David F. Ashton
More than one neighbor called in “a fire at a fence, near at the back of a house” near a rental duplex at 17 NE 157th Avenue in the Glenfair neighborhood on Monday, January 24.
Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) crews were dispatched to the incident at 3:15 p.m. that afternoon – with Parkrose Station’s Engine Company #2 arriving first, and reporting seeing heavy smoke rising from the back of the building.
All within just a minute of one another, six other rigs pulled up, including one from Gresham Fire Bureau’s Station 71.
Melted siding is evidence that this fire burned hot. PF&R image
Upon closer inspection, firefighters spotted heavy smoke from the eaves and the back of the structure. While some crew members hooked up water supply lines to attack the fire, others searched both sides of the duplex for potential victims.
“They were able to do a quick knockdown of the fire and search both apartments,” a PF&R spokesperson said. “The fire did extend into the roof, and crews were met with difficulty when the power supply continued to arc at the back of the structure.”
-3 Firefighters with Ladder Truck Company 71 carefully walk on the charred roof of this duplex. Greg Muhr, PF&R
Eventually, a Pacific Power crew arrived. They had to shut power off to the whole city block to allow crews to safely extinguish the fire.
A PF&R Arson Investigator was called to help determine the cause of this blaze, the cause of which is still under investigation. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
On our Front Page: Photo by Greg Muhr, PF&R
© 2022 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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