Portland Fire & Rescue crews responded to a commercial fire at SE 82nd and Ramona. The fire came in at 4:57pm causing some difficulties for the rush hour traffic on 82nd Ave. Engine 11 (Lents) arrived to find heavy fire and smoke from Dale Brothers Barber Shop and, with the help of additional engine companies, hose lines were taken into the first floor of the 2.5 story building to begin attempts at putting the fire out. Truck 7 and 25 cut holes in the roof to remove smoke and heat so that the firefighters inside could navigate the interior of the business. Meanwhile, despite encountering heavy fire on the second floor and attic, interior crews were able to stop the fire and salvage the locally owned business of 40 years. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries that did not require ambulance transport. Fire investigators were sent to the scene and determined the fire cause to be an unspecified electrical problem. Property loss is estimated at $30,000. Pictures will be uploade
d shortly.

Safety reminder: Each year in the U.S. electrical problems cause 68,000 home fires and 500 deaths. Homes more than 40 years old are three times more likely to have an electrical fire than newer homes built in the last 20 years.

Contact info, for media use only:
Lt. Rich Chatman PIO, media pgr: 503-940-6003