Just before 9pm PF&R crews were dispatched to a report of a residential fire and arrived to find heavy fire and smoke in the basement of a SE Portland home. Crews made entry with hose lines into the basement and found that a portion of the fire was being fed by a severed natural gas line. The crews also ran into an electrical hazard that turned out to be related to the lighting equipment for the several marijuana plants found growing in the basement. Portland Police Bureau officials said they would be taking the lead in investigating whether the over 50 plants found were being legally grown. The fire was eventually controlled and investigators were still determining the cause and amount of damage at the time of this release. The two residents in the home at the time were evacuated safely. No pets were reported.

Contact Info:
Lt. Chatman PIO, Media pgr. 503-940-6003