This morning at 8:28 am, Portland Fire & Rescue and the Gresham Fire Department responded to an apartment fire at 15780 SE Division Street.  Firefighters arrived and found heavy smoke and fire in two apartments, as well as in a stairwell shared with two other apartments.  Firefighters were informed by neighbors that people were still inside the burning apartments.  One apartment was located on the first floor and the other was directly above it on the second floor.  The fire was also beginning to move into the attic.

Despite working smoke alarms that alerted the occupants, the fire spread quickly and several people were unable to escape.  Immediately on arrival, firefighters from Station 31 (Rockwood) began aggressively attacking the fire while crews from Station 7 (Mill Park) started rescuing victims.  Three people were unable to get out of the apartments, as their escape route was blocked by heavy fire and smoke.  Using ladders, firefighters were able to rescue two of the people from the upstairs apartment, who were transported to the hospital and released.  Tragically, despite being carried from the burning lower apartment, one person died.

Portland Fire & Rescue’s Chief Erin Janssens went to the scene after she learned of the death.  She said the following, “Our hearts go out to the family and friends who have lost their loved one.  Despite our efforts to prevent fires and keep our community safe, fire remains a very real threat; this is a tragic loss.”  

Four apartments will be uninhabitable due to fire damage.   The American Red Cross will be providing shelter and clothing as needed for the 10 people displaced by the fire.  Damages were estimated to be $190,000 by investigators.  No information on the fires cause is available at this point.   


•    Working smoke alarms save lives-  Every sleeping area, every level, and replace every 10 years
•    Know another route- Always have a secondary means of egress
•    After you are out- Don’t go back for anything!  
•    Meet at a central location out front so you can quickly relay to firefighters if someone is still inside and needs to be rescued

(Fire Chief Erin Janssens and command staff of Portland Fire & Rescue)

Portland firefighters, (a majority of them off-duty) from across the city participated in Veterans Day events over the weekend. Fire Chief Erin Janssens marched alongside firefighters in the Ross Hollywood Chapel Veterans Day Parade. Grant and Inger Coffey, the parents of Marine Cpl. Keaton Coffey who died on May 24th during combat operations in Afghanistan, were honored as the Grand Marshals of this year’s parade.

This year’s event was a somber reminder of the personal connection we all share with the men and women who have served or are currently serving our nation. Grant Coffey is the regional Hazardous Materials Coordinator for Portland Fire and Rescue. His son died just weeks before he was to return home from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

(Portland Fire & Rescue's 1949 Mack Fire Engine)

(Memorial Bell depicting Cpl. Keaton Coffey on Truck 7)

Firefighters also attended the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall http://www.dmvietnamwall.com/portland/.  At this event, members of Portland Fire & Rescue’s Honor Guard “posted the colors” (placed the flags) while other firefighters used ladder trucks to hoist a giant flag into place.  This was an opportunity for firefighters to honor those who protect us.    

(Photos courtesy of Joseph Troncoso and Dick Harris)