House Fire in Forest Grove Causes Heavy Damage, Firefighter Injured

FOREST GROVE, Ore. — A house fire early Sunday morning caused heavy damage to a split-level home in Forest Grove and sent a firefighter to a local hospital for evaluation.

Forest Grove firefighters were dispatched at approximately 12:18 a.m. Aug. 9 to a reported house fire in the 3100 block of Lavina Drive. Crews arrived to find heavy flames coming from the garage and spreading upward into the main portion of the home.

Firefighters initially attacked the fire in the garage while additional crews worked to gain access to the main living area. Access proved difficult because the home was built on a hillside. The front stairway and deck were blocked by heavy fire and numerous stored items, including more than a dozen bicycles, several of which were electric bikes.

Firefighters climbed over a five-foot retaining wall to reach the front door and enter the main portion of the home. Ladders were later placed to improve access.

Because of the increasing fire conditions, additional resources were requested, and a second alarm was dispatched at approximately 12:33 a.m.

The fire was brought under control after about 35 minutes. Crews remained on scene for more than an hour afterward, checking the structure for hot spots.

During the overhaul operation, a firefighter from the Cornelius Fire Department was struck by falling debris. The firefighter was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. No update on the firefighter’s condition was available at the time of the fire department’s release.

The fire caused heavy damage throughout the structure. The home’s sole resident was able to safely evacuate.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Fire agencies assisting at the scene included Cornelius Fire Department, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Gaston Fire District, Banks Fire District, AMR Washington County and Forest Grove Police Department.