9:00 PM

Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched to reports of an apartment building on fire at 7939 SW 40th (The Village at Multnomah) at 4:11 pm. Additional callers to 9-1-1 reported that they could see a black cloud of smoke and flames coming from the building and that a babysitter and child were possibly trapped inside one of the units.

Firefighters from Portland Fire Station 18 (Multnomah Village) arrived first on scene three minutes after receiving the call. Firefighters immediately pulled a hose line and began advancing to perform a search and rescue of the babysitter and child in one of the fire units. They simultaneously called for a second alarm response, bringing additional firefighters and apparatus to help fight the fire which was spreading to additional units.

As firefighters searched for trapped victims, the flames and heat became so intense that firefighters were forced back out of the unit. Two firefighters received burns to their knees and wrists and suffered heat exhaustion. They were treated at the scene by Portland Fire paramedics and transported to the Emanuel Burn Center with non-life threatening injuries. Fortunately, it was later determined that the babysitter and child had safely escaped prior to firefighters' arrival.

Six condominium units were involved in fire, which resulted in eight people being displaced including seven adults and one baby. While firefighters were attacking the blaze a firefighter fell through the roof but it was determined that he was not injured. The fire was brought under control at 5:00 pm.

Fire investigators at the scene have not yet determined the cause of this afternoon's fire or reached a damage estimate. Firefighters will remain on scene for the next several hours to clean up after the fire and monitor for hot spots. The Red Cross was called to assist people who were displaced by the fire with finding alternate housing.