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The City of Portland, Oregon

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Always Ready, Always There

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NEWS RELEASE 01/30/12: Portland Firefighters Battle Blaze in NE Portland Caused by Unattended Candle

2 Comments

January 30, 2012

2:34 PM

At 11:33 am, Portland Firefighters were dispatched to reports of fire in the attic of a house at 3244 NE 51st. When firefighters from Portland Fire Station 28 (Rose City/Hollywood) arrived at 11:36 am, just three minutes later, they found heavy smoke coming from the finished attic of the two-story house. Firefighters made entry into the house and found an occupant standing at the bottom of the stairs preparing to head up the stairs to fight the fire with a garden hose.

The occupant was advised to remove himself to safety and firefighters ascended the stairs and began fighting the fire. Concealed spaces on the second floor/attic made firefighting difficult.

Fire attack crews reported very high heat and requested vertical ventilation (a hole cut in the roof) by ladder truck crews. The fire was declared under control at 12:16 pm. There were no injuries associated with the fire. The occupant’s pets were removed safely.

Fire investigators responded and determined that the cause of the fire was from an unattended candle. Damage estimates are not available at this time. The house is uninhabitable and the occupants will be staying with friends.

Candles start more than 13,000 home fires each year. Portland Fire & Rescue reminds citizens never to leave burning candles unattended.

   

  Portland Fire & Rescue 

   We Respond: Always Ready, Always There

   January 30, 2012 

 

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2 Comments

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1

Mary Millard

January 30, 2012 at 4:44 PM

Thank goodness PFB arrived in time to save the occupant from dying of his own stupidity. I haven't lit a candle since I started working for PFB in 1980!

2

Kevin Dawson

February 5, 2012 at 11:42 AM

Most accidental candle fires like this can be prevented!

Kevin's Kandles provide an innovative concept in safer candles for illumination. These candles are Much Safer than traditional candles, Convenient, Inexpensive and Environmentally Friendly.

Ideal for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness.
Help reduce the risk of accidental candle fires in our communities
by visiting www.asafercandle.com

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Spam Prevention In the Pacific Northwest, what state is Portland in?