Portland Fire responds to evening residential fire in Hazelwood Neighborhood

PF&R responded to a residential fire in the Hazelwood Neighborhood at just before 8..."> Portland Fire responds to evening residential fire in Hazelwood Neighborhood

PF&R responded to a residential fire in the Hazelwood Neighborhood at just before 8..." /> Portland Fire responds to evening residential fire in Hazelwood Neighborhood

PF&R responded to a residential fire in the Hazelwood Neighborhood at just before 8... "> Portland Fire responds to evening residential fire in Hazelwood Neighborhood (Photo)

Portland Fire responds to evening residential fire in Hazelwood Neighborhood (Photo)

May 02, 2024 23:40

  

Portland Fire responds to evening residential fire in Hazelwood Neighborhood

PF&R responded to a residential fire in the Hazelwood Neighborhood at just before 8 PM. The fire grew to need a second alarm assignment respond as crews were cycling in and out of the home addressing the fire. In just over an hour the fire was under control and crews were released to their home stations. An occupant of the house was medically evaluated on scene and transported to the hospital for evaluation of smoke inhalation during the early stages of the fire. Portland Fire has 2 investigators on scene to begin the forensic evaluation and interview occupants to begin to discover the cause.

Reports from the Bureau of Emergency Communication (BOEC) were of a structural fire that began in a solarium area of the home and that all residents were safely outside but there were 2 pets remaining unaccounted for as crews were enroute to this fire. Crews responding to the scene reported the presence of a large smoke column, referred to as a header in the fire service, indicating a working structural fire. This smoke column could be seen from as far away as the Hollywood District, PDX International Airport, and from the West Hills as the large dark column rose skyward. Dispatched engine companies were communicating a strategy of establishing a water supply as they were in route to be able to quickly begin to extinguish the fire upon arrival.

The first arriving engine reported heavy fire activity on the back side of the home as they arrived and directed an offensive fire attack which directs crews to take handheld hose lines to the inside of the home and extinguish the fire. Members of this engine company stretched a hose line to the back of the home and began to apply water on the fire which was now running from the basement up into the attic area of the single-story dwelling. The second arriving engine established a water supply at the closest fire hydrant and connected to the pumping engine and then grabbed a hose line and began to stretch the line to the front door. While the first company applied water on the fire from the back side of the hose, the second arriving company took their hose line interior and were able to find the stairs to the basement quickly despite the thick dark smoke obscuring their view and made a push into the basement that quickly extinguished the bulk of the fire present in the basement area of the home. During this initial fire attack, truck crews were assigned to search the structure and to perform vertical ventilation by using saws to open holes in the roof to release the hot gasses and smoke trapped in the home.

The crew that pushed into the basement reported the bulk of the fire was extinguished and the first-floor companies followed with a similar report. As interior crews believed they had a handle of the fire, the safety chief on the outside reported significant fire activity in the attic that was burning through the roof structure. Crews were directed to enter the home and pull ceiling material away to allow for access to the attic spaces. After a few minutes of work crews reported that the ceiling was plywood and gaining access into the attic space was not possible using handheld piercing tools. During this period the fire grew and ran the attic and began to drop fire into the former garage space, which was converted into a living space that was reported to be heavily cluttered with flammable items. This dropping of fire into the former garage space had the fire begin to grow with small explosions beginning to occur. Interviews with the homeowner indicated there was ballistic ammunition stored in the garage and attic space. With the increasing fire impinging on the more than 1000#’s of stored explosive powder and ammunition, crews were pulled out of the home for their safety and began to apply water on the fire through holes in the roof and other openings in the home from a safe distance in a defensive tactic. A second pumping engine attached to a different fire hydrant was employed to use as much water as possible from a safe distance to keep the fire at bay while the ammunition in the former garage and attic space was popping off and exploding. Crews were using handheld fire hoses along with using the roof mounted turret to put as much water onto and into the structure as possible while remaining a safe distance away due to bullets popping off. There were a few larger explosions that occurred both in the former garage area and in the attic leading the command staff to direct the companies to continue a defensive fire attack strategy for the safety of all on scene. A second alarm assignment was requested by command at around the 30-minute mark to be certain there was enough personnel on scene to address the length of the incident.

This use of water from the exterior continued for 30 minutes until the explosives stopped and crews then transitioned back into an offensive fire attack and completely extinguished the fire. The fire was considered under control just over an hour the dispatch alert was sent out with all unassigned companies released. Crews are now transitioning into a fire watch situation with different companies from across the city taking a two-to-three-hour shift in making certain the fire activity does not grow and affect any neighboring homes overnight. The only potential injury reported was the occupant transported with concerns of smoke inhalation. Portland Fire Investigations Unit is on scene performing a forensic evaluation to aid in the determination of cause.

Portland Fire would like to acknowledge the assistance we received from our mutual aid partners to the east, Gresham Fire and Emergency Services along with the help provided by the dispatchers at BOEC. Finally, we would like to that members of the public safety division that provided traffic control and to PGE for disconnecting the electrical power ensuring that all those around the power lines were working in a safe space.

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