A dramatic early morning house fire in North Portland’s Kenton neighborhood left one person critically injured and another hurt after jumping from a second-story window to escape the flames.
Portland Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched at approximately 4:34 a.m. Sunday after multiple 911 callers reported flames coming from the front of a home and indicated that two people might still be trapped inside.
Firefighters with Engine 26 were the first to arrive and found heavy fire conditions at the front of the residence. Crews immediately advanced hose lines into the home and launched an aggressive interior attack while firefighters from Truck 8 entered from two different access points to search for occupants.
One resident had already escaped by jumping from a second-story window. Fire officials said the man told firefighters another person was still inside and provided a likely location within the home. Using that information, Truck 8 crews conducted a targeted search and quickly located the victim.
The trapped occupant was removed from the burning home and transferred to firefighters from Engine 24, who immediately began advanced medical treatment before accompanying the patient to the hospital in an AMR ambulance.
As rescue efforts continued, firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Engine 22 deployed an additional hose line to the rear of the structure while Truck 22 cut ventilation holes in the roof to release smoke and heat. Engine 17 advanced a hose line to the second floor to battle flames that had spread into the attic.
Crews later opened portions of the roof and attic walls to ensure hidden hot spots were extinguished.
A second ambulance was requested for the resident who escaped through the second-story window. That person was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident also marked the first emergency response for Portland Fire & Rescue’s newest academy graduates. Training specialists from Station 2 responded with additional apparatus and personnel as part of the department’s structured field training program, designed to give new firefighters experience during major incidents under close supervision.
Investigators with the Portland Fire Investigations Unit are working to determine the cause of the fire. An arson investigation dog, Kiki, also responded to the scene as part of the investigation team.
The fire remained active during a scheduled PF&R shift change, with incoming crews relieving firefighters who had already been on duty for nearly 24 hours.
In total, 40 sworn firefighters responded to the incident alongside AMR, Portland Police, and local utility crews.
About the Author
Discover more from Right Now Oregon
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
