PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) crews responded to two residential fires within minutes of each other early Wednesday morning in Southeast Portland, stretching resources across the city’s east side and prompting assistance from mutual aid partners.
The first fire was reported shortly after 2 a.m. at a duplex in Portland’s Hazelwood neighborhood. Multiple callers alerted emergency dispatchers to flames and smoke coming from the structure, including a resident living in the unaffected half of the duplex.
The initial response brought four fire engines, two ladder trucks, a heavy rescue squad, and two chief officers to the scene, totaling 30 firefighters. Crews from Station 7 in the Mill Park neighborhood arrived first and quickly began firefighting operations.
Firefighters established a water supply, deployed hose lines, and conducted a search of the structure. A small fire was located in a rear room of the duplex. Although the fire was contained to a limited area, crews encountered heavy smoke and significant clutter throughout the residence, requiring firefighters to remove combustible items near the fire to ensure it had not spread into the structure.
While crews were still working at the Hazelwood fire, a second residential fire was reported at approximately 2:24 a.m. near Southeast 141st Avenue and Main Street in the Mill Park neighborhood, about two miles away.
Because many east-side fire resources were already committed to the first incident, responding units to the second fire faced longer-than-normal travel times, with assistance requested from Gresham Fire.
Dispatchers received reports of heavy flames coming from the home’s windows and roof. Callers also reported hearing screams and indicated that a disabled adult relative was known to stay at the residence, raising immediate concerns about potential occupants trapped inside.
Squad 12 arrived first and found the single-story home fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters immediately conducted a search around the structure while simultaneously working to protect neighboring homes from the rapidly spreading fire.
Additional PF&R crews released from the Hazelwood incident soon arrived and joined suppression and rescue efforts. Their arrival allowed command officers to cancel additional responding units, including some mutual aid companies, so they could remain available for other emergencies.
Firefighters focused on preventing the blaze from spreading to nearby homes while reducing the intensity of the fire enough to safely search the interior. Once conditions allowed, crews entered the structure despite significant fire remaining inside.
During primary and secondary searches, firefighters found multiple dogs inside the residence. Three dogs were found deceased. A fourth dog was rescued, provided oxygen therapy at the scene, and transported to DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital for treatment.
No people were found inside the home. Firefighters and investigators interviewed neighbors, who reported that the homeowner was often away when a vehicle was not parked at the residence. Neighbors also indicated the disabled relative was not believed to be present. Officials said there was no evidence of human occupancy inside the home during either search.
Crews spent approximately 30 minutes extinguishing the fire. Fire officials credited the rapid response and coordinated efforts of firefighters with preventing the blaze from spreading to neighboring homes, allowing adjacent residents to remain in their homes.
The homeowner displaced by the fire is being assisted by the American Red Cross. According to PF&R, the homeowner first learned of the fire after receiving a call from DoveLewis notifying him that his dog had been rescued and transported for treatment.
No human injuries were reported in either fire, and no firefighters were injured during the incidents.
The causes of both fires remain under investigation.
A total of 46 Portland Fire & Rescue personnel responded to the two incidents, along with eight firefighters from Gresham Fire. PF&R also thanked dispatchers at the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC) and mutual aid partners from Gresham Fire for their assistance during the overnight emergencies.
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