Date-01/01/2013

This morning at 3:45am Portland Fire & Rescue crews were called to a house on fire at 14021 SE Main St. When firefighters arrived they found heavy fire burning in a front room. Firefighters from Engine 7 (Mill Park) entered the house and began attacking the fire. At the same time the crew of the ladder truck searched for victims and cut a hole in the roof to ventilate flammable fire gases.

The fire was quickly extinguished and the homes resident was located at a neighbors house. The adult male had escaped before firefighters arrived, although he was forced to climb out of a window. The man stated that he woke up to the sound of a smoke alarm. He then opened his door and saw that his exit was blocked by fire. The resident then closed the door and exited through the window.

The Red Cross will be providing shelter for the man as the house is uninhabitable due to the fire damage. Fire investigators were called to the scene and determined that the fire was caused by lights in the Christmas tree. Investigators estimate that the fire caused $25,000 in damage. Investigators also say that the resident saved the portion of the house that he was in by closing the door.

Portland Fire & Rescue reminds residents to have working smoke alarms in their homes: on every level, in all sleeping rooms and outside every sleeping area. Without a working smoke alarm this man might not have escaped.