Wilkes neighborhood house fire sends victim to hospital

Find out why police were also called to the scene of this blaze …

Portland Fire & Rescue crews from multiple stations battle a smoky residential fire in the Wilkes area of outer northeast Portland.

By David F. Ashton
The report to Portland’s 9-1-1 Center at 3:44 pm on April 26 of dark, heavy smoke was coming from the front door, windows, and eaves, of an East Portland home got Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) firefighters rolling toward 15024 NE Clackamas Street, in the Wilkes Community Group area.

PF&R Rescue 30’s crew was first to arrive – and radioed to engine and truck companies still on their way that there was significant smoke from the eves and chimney of the home.

“When crews arrived, they didn’t know if the home was occupied,” explained PF&R Public Information Officer Paul Corah. That mandated a search of the burning home.

Firefighters resuscitate a person found in the home’s basement. Dick Harris, PF&R photo

The fire victim is transported to the ambulance. Dick Harris, PF&R photo

Firefighters from Parkrose-based Training Station 2’s truck company forced entry into the home and began a preliminary search for victims. “Firefighters located a fire victim in the basement,” Corah said. “AMR Ambulance paramedics treated and transported the victim to a local area hospital.”

At the same time, Corah continued, firefighters laddered up to the burning structure’s roof and cut holes – “vertical ventilation” – to allow heat and smoke up out of the house.

Firefighters successfully attacked and extinguished a large body of fire on the main floor, Corah added. “Then, they deployed a hand-held Thermal Imaging Camera, to see areas of heat through the smoke and darkness in the basement.”

Firefighters cut holes in the roof to allow heat and smoke to escape the structure. Dick Harris, PF&R photo

Bystanders wondered why cars from the Portland Police Bureau were also rolling up to the scene. Corah revealed, “Police officers were called in to remove multiple weapons found in the residence.”
Crews had the fire extinguished at 4:40 p.m. “The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and there no damage estimates at this time,” concluded Corah.

Comments are closed.