Portland Fire Battles two residential fires and a major gas incident on the East Side this morning.
Portland Fire & Rescue responded to two fires along with a m..."> Portland Fire Battles two residential fires and a major gas incident on the East Side this morning.
Portland Fire & Rescue responded to two fires along with a m..." /> Portland Fire Battles two residential fires and a major gas incident on the East Side this morning.
Portland Fire & Rescue responded to two fires along with a m... ">
October 23, 2023 11:50
Portland Fire Battles two residential fires and a major gas incident on the East Side this morning.
Portland Fire & Rescue responded to two fires along with a major gas leak on the east side nearly simultaneously this morning. At just before 9 AM, a fire was reported in the Woodstock Neighborhood. As this fire was winding down and crews were clearing, reports of a construction crew rupturing a gas line at a construction site on Rocky Butte was dispatched. As crews were arriving to the gas major on Rocky Butte, a residential fire box alarm assignment was requested for a house fire in the Alameda Neighborhood. These incidents had seventeen emergency response rigs (Engines and Trucks) responding, three 2-person emergency response rigs, and 3 chief officers all working for the better part of the morning.
The fire in the Woodstock Neighborhood was in the converted upstairs area of the home with a quick offensive fire attack leading to minimal structural damage to the home. Crews quickly advanced hand lines upstairs to extinguish the flames that were contained to a single room. Two adult residents were transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation evaluations. PF&R crews organized for the care of the pets while the residents were seeking medical care. There will be 3 residents and 2 dogs displaced by this fire. PF&R is reaching out to the Red Cross to assist in any temporary lodging needed. This fire is currently under investigation.
Construction crews were installing a new fence around a home that sits on tall stilts on Rocky Butte and hit a gas feeder line and reported this to BOEC at 9:30 AM. The natural gas line was venting into the atmosphere and all homes in the area were safe and not collecting any of the gas. Northwest Natural and the power company were requested to safely stop the flow of power and gas to the address and eliminate any further danger. Steep slopes, elevated work platforms, and difficult access to the feeder line posed challenges to the responding PF&R crews along with the utility companies.
A residential box alarm assignment was requested in the Alameda Neighborhood was requested at 9:32 AM as crews were arriving to the ruptured gas line a few blocks to the east. These two incidents occurring simultaneously committed every fire engine and truck located in NE PDX to emergency incidents requiring some companies from the West side to also respond. This fire was dispatched as a smoke investigation at 9:25 with a community member calling in a smoke column visible from a home on the Alameda Ridge. The first arriving engine balanced the response to a residential fire assignment which adds 3 more fire engines, two fire trucks, and 2 chiefs as result of an evident attic fire at the location. The commanding officer reported that a one and ½ story home with a basement had at least an active attic fire with brown smoke pushing out through ceiling vents. A fire hydrant a few homes away on the corner was accessed and a successful water supply was established with an offensive fire attack directed to take fire hoses inside the home to gain access from the inside to begin to suppress the flames. A truck company was sent to the roof to cut holes above the fire to allow for the hot gasses and flames to escape. Crews on the roof reported softening of the roof and with concerns of a firefighter falling through the weakened fire damaged structure, the command officer called for a reduced number of members on the roof and only permitted in specific areas of the roof itself. As these fire fighting actions were taking place, interior crews successfully rescued 2 cats and a dog and placed them in the care of a neighbor. Interior access to the attic was established by pulling ceiling while holes in the roof and on the gable end of the home were cut to allow for water access from the exterior to occur as well. After chasing down small difficult to access areas of fire in the attic for 15 minutes this fire was completely extinguished by crews on scene. There will be 3 residents and 3 pets displaced. No injuries reported on this emergency incident. This fire is also currently under investigation.
Portland Fire & Rescue want to remind you to never leave an open flame unattended and completely extinguish all candles when you leave a room. In addition, please make certain to leave any structure quickly with activated smoke alarms with the presence of smoke. Portland Fire & Rescue would like to acknowledge the assistance of our partners at the Bureau of Emergency Dispatch, the transporting paramedics with American Medical Response, and the utility companies for their help in these 3 concurrent emergency incidents.
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