February 10, 2011

1:40 PM

A woman's decision to let the professionals handle it may have saved her from injury this morning.  The homeowner was walking her dog when she remembered that she had left a space heater turned on in the back bedroom. 

When she returned home and opened the front door, she saw smoke seeping from around the back bedroom door.  She stayed outside of her home and called 9-1-1.

Engine 14, from the Vernon station, arrived at the NE 14th Ave home less than four minutes after being dispatched.  When firefighters opened the door to the back bedroom, the room flashed over. 

"Our firefighting turnouts and breathing apparatus are designed to protect us from heat and smoke," stated Public Information Officer Paul Corah.  "If the homeowner had opened the door, she could have been badly burned.  She did the right thing by staying outside and calling 9-1-1."

After checking to make sure that the fire had not crept into the attic or beneath the flooring, the alarm was recalled 22 minutes later.

Portland Fire & Rescue reminds Portlanders that heating is the second leading cause of home fires according to the US Fire Administration.  Portable space heaters are the top cause of fire deaths from home heating equipment.  Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including furniture, blankets, curtains, and paper products.  Choose space heaters that turn off automatically if they tip over.

   Portland Fire & Rescue 

   We Respond: Always Ready, Always There

   February 9, 2011 

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