Hillsboro, OR. — Hillsboro Fire & Rescue responded to a residential attic fire Thursday evening in the 700 block of Southwest Bailey Avenue, successfully containing the blaze and preventing further damage.
At 7:39 p.m., a resident called 911 to report a fire in the attic. Firefighters from Station 1 arrived within four minutes and found the resident safely evacuated, with smoke visible from the roofline. The incident was upgraded to a first alarm to bring additional crews and resources to the scene.
Firefighters accessed the attic and extinguished the fire, which was confined to a small area near a wood stove pipe. Crews conducted a thorough search of the home and checked surrounding ceilings and walls for fire extension, confirming the fire was fully extinguished. No injuries were reported.
During post-fire checks, firefighters discovered there were no working smoke alarms in the home. As a safety measure, crews installed one smoke alarm in a bedroom and another near the kitchen.
Hillsboro Public Safety Chaplains responded to offer assistance, but the resident declined services. Due to the limited damage, the resident was able to reenter the home.
Fire investigators with Hillsboro Fire & Rescue are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire, which remains undetermined.
This incident marks the second residential fire in Hillsboro within a 12-hour period related to fireplaces or wood stoves. Fire officials are reminding residents to have chimneys inspected and cleaned annually, keep combustible materials at least three feet from heat sources, properly dispose of ashes in metal containers with lids, and ensure working smoke alarms are installed on every level of the home and in all sleeping areas.
About the Author
