Quick Action By Firefighter Prevents Fire Spread (Photo) - 01/24/26

At 7:39 p.m. this evening, a resident called 911 and reported a fire in the attic of his home in the 700 block of SW Bailey Avenue in Hillsboro. Firefighters from Station 1 arrived within four minutes to find the resident safely evacuated and smoke emanating from the roofline. The call was then upgraded to a first alarm to bring additional firefighters and resources.

Firefighters quickly accessed the home’s attic and extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the home. The fire was contained in a small area in the attic near a wood stove pipe. As a precaution, they searched the home and confirmed that everyone was safely out. Additional firefighters checked the ceiling and walls for fire extension and confirmed the fire was completely extinguished. No injuries were reported.

After the fire was extinguished, firefighters found no working smoke alarms in the home. They installed one smoke alarm in the bedroom and one smoke alarm near the kitchen to help provide a measure of safety for the resident.

Hillsboro Public Safety Chaplains responded to the incident to provide aid and support to the resident, but the resident declined. Given the limited damage from the fire, the resident was able to reenter the home.

Hillsboro Fire and Rescue fire investigators responded to the incident, and a fire investigation is ongoing. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.  

This is the second residential fire in Hillsboro within 12 hours related to fireplaces and wood stoves.

Hillsboro Fire & Rescue encourages everyone to practice these safety tips for their chimneys and wood stoves:

• Have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional each year.
• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from your fireplace or wood stove.
• Put ashes in a metal container with a lid. Place the container outside at least 10 feet from your home.

Additionally, working smoke alarms save lives.

• Ensure that you have a smoke alarm on every floor of your home and one in every sleeping area.
• Test your smoke alarm regularly and practice your home escape plan.
• Once you and your family are outside at your meeting place, call 911 from a safe location away from the fire.

Thanks to the Cornelius Fire Department, Hillsboro Police, AMR Ambulance, and Hillsboro Public Safety Chaplains, who assisted at the incident.

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Multi-Unit Residential Fire Displaces Eight Adults, Five Children (Photo) - 01/23/26

At 4:24 a.m. early this morning, Washington County 911 received a report of a residential fire in a multi-unit complex in the 100 block of NW Bailey Avenue in Hillsboro. The caller indicated that some people were evacuating, but they didn’t know what was on fire or how far the fire had spread. Additional neighbors in the complex called to report a fire and visible smoke coming from one of the apartment units; they, too, were evacuating, with smoke alarms audible in the background. A Hillsboro Police officer who arrived on scene shortly after the first 911 call reported that some residents had evacuated safely and that fire was now evident from the back of the apartment complex, burning through the windows. The fire was upgraded to a first alarm to bring additional firefighters and resources to the incident.

The first arriving fire engine and rescue unit from Station 1 entered the apartment on fire to locate and extinguish the fire and minimize its spread to other units. Additional firefighters began searching in the adjacent units for victims and to ensure no one was still inside. Shortly after 4:30 a.m., another 911 call reported a second residential fire about one block from this active incident. The incident commander requested one of the incoming fire engine crews to redirect to that location and assess the report. Firefighters on Engine 3 arrived at the second address and confirmed that there was no second fire and that the reported flames and smoke were actually coming from the original address and were visible from the nearby location.

Firefighters reported heavy fire and smoke conditions inside the affected apartment. They also reported that a sub-basement level existed beneath the entire four-unit complex and that precautions should be taken about structural stability.

At approximately 4:48 a.m., there was a report that there may be a victim inside the affected apartment on fire. Firefighters thoroughly searched all the units and floors and verified that all residents were safely evacuated. Although no injuries were reported, one person was assessed by paramedics on the scene. After firefighters knocked down the main part of the fire, they continued searching for and extinguishing hot spots throughout the entire complex.

Hillsboro Public Safety Chaplains responded to the incident to provide aid and support to the residents. In total, eight adults and five children were displaced because of the fire. The American Red Cross was requested to aid the displaced residents.  

Hillsboro Fire and Rescue fire investigators responded to the incident, and a fire investigation is ongoing. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.  

Hillsboro Fire & Rescue reminds everyone that working smoke alarms save lives.

• Ensure that you have a smoke alarm on every floor of your home and one in every sleeping area.
• Test your smoke alarm regularly and practice your home escape plan.
• Once you and your family are outside at your meeting place, call 911 from a safe location away from the fire.

Thanks to Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Cornelius Fire Department, Hillsboro Police, AMR Ambulance, Portland General Electric, NW Natural Gas, Hillsboro Public Safety Chaplains, and the American Red Cross, who assisted at the incident.

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UPDATE: January 4, 2026 - Residential Fire Displaces Two In Hillsboro - 01/04/26

Update: At 9:55 a.m. this morning Hillsboro Fire & Rescue crews were notified that smoke and flames were seen from the front of the residence located in the 2200 block of NE Sunrise Lane.  Fire crews responded and worked to extinguish the fire and overhaul the residence.  The fire is still under investigation.

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At 8:59 p.m. today, callers to 911 reported smoke and fire coming from the front of a home in the 2200 block of NE Sunrise Lane in Hillsboro. 

The first arriving fire engine upgraded the response to a first alarm to bring additional resources to the incident based on calls to 911 and a significant amount of fire showing from the residence.  As the first crews were arriving, an energized electrical line to the house had dropped across the roadway and crews had to quickly and safely work around the line until it was secured by PGE.  Fire crews found fire throughout the single-story residence and attacked the fire and began to search the residence for any occupants.  Two occupants were found outside of the residence, and both were evaluated by medical personnel.  One of the occupants was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries for evaluation.  It was reported that there was a total of six pets in the residence and four were found by firefighters.  Unfortunately, all four of those pets did not survive.  Fire crews continued to work on extinguishing the fire and ventilating the residence.  Crews began to overhaul the structure, and no firefighter injuries were reported.

Hillsboro Fire investigators responded to the incident, and the fire investigation is ongoing.  The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.  

A public safety chaplain responded to the scene to support and assist the occupants.  A total of two adults were displaced by the fire.

Hillsboro Police, AMR, and PGE assisted Hillsboro Fire & Rescue and Cornelius Fire Department and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue helped answer other 911 calls during the fire. 

Hillsboro Fire & Rescue reminds everyone that smoke alarms save lives.  Test your smoke alarm once per month and ensure you and your family know your home escape plan and outside meeting place.