Forest Grove, Ore. — A late-night fire in a duplex on Saturday, March 28, resulted in the death of a 67-year-old man, according to fire officials.
At approximately 12:20 a.m., Forest Grove firefighters were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 2300 block of 12th Avenue. Crews arrived within five minutes to find flames coming from the front window of a single-story duplex.
Firefighters initiated an exterior attack through the window to quickly knock down the visible flames before transitioning inside to complete extinguishment. Within less than a minute of entering the structure, crews located an unconscious resident. The individual was immediately removed from the building as firefighters continued efforts to contain the fire, successfully preventing it from spreading beyond the front living area.
At the same time, additional crews began life-saving measures on the victim. Despite their efforts, the resident was pronounced deceased at the scene. Authorities confirmed the victim was a 67-year-old male, and next of kin have been notified.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office in coordination with Forest Grove police detectives, which is standard procedure in incidents involving fatalities.
Investigators also determined that the residence did not have functioning smoke alarms. Fire officials emphasized the importance of installing working smoke detectors in every bedroom and outside sleeping areas, as well as testing them monthly to ensure proper operation.
Forest Grove Fire & Rescue was assisted at the scene by the Cornelius Fire Department, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Banks Fire District, AMR, the Forest Grove Police Department, and the Washington County Medical Examiner’s Office.
About the Author
Discover more from Right Now Oregon
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
