Posted at 3:03 pm

Portland Fire and Rescue responded to reports of smoke pouring out of the roof of a house at 2538 NE Ainsworth Street at 11:35 am this morning.  Firefighters arrived at 11:39 am to find an active fire in the home's attic.

Firefighters immediately searched the home for occupants and began attacking the fire in the attic with water from hose lines pulled up to the second floor.  Firefighters also climbed ladders up to the roof of the home to cut ventilation holes into the attic.  These holes allow heat, smoke and flammable gasses to exit the attic space through the roof.  This makes firefighting on the second floor considerably safer by removing the heat and flammable gasses that can ignite and cause a whole room to flashover (everything in the room begins burning all at once).  The smoke is also removed which helps with increased visibility for the firefighters on the second floor.  Due to the fast and effective work of the Portland Firefighters, the fire was contained to the attic and portions of the second floor.  The fire was brought under control at 12:00 pm.

No occupants were home at the time of the fire and no injuries occurred to any of the firefighters.

A Fire Investigator was called to the scene and is working to determine the fire's cause.  Damage estimates are not yet available.