Firefighters Rescue Two People From Residential Fire (Photo) - 06/25/26
At 1:43 p.m. today, multiple callers to 911 reported a fire in a home in the 1700 block of SE Oak Street in Hillsboro. Information provided to the 911 call taker reported that two people may still be inside the home and unable to evacuate. Additional information reported that people attempted to enter the home to assist, but were unable to due to heavy smoke and fire conditions. A Hillsboro Police officer arrived and was given the same information that there may be two people inside the home, which dispatchers relayed to fire crews en route to the call. Rescue 1 responding from Main Station 1 in downtown Hillsboro reported to dispatch that a smoke plume was visible from a distance.
The first arriving fire units reported heavy smoke and fire conditions from the second story of the home. Firefighters immediately entered the home to locate the fire and begin extinguishment. Simultaneously, teams of other firefighters attempted to locate and rescue the reported people inside. Given the fire conditions and search efforts, the incident commander upgraded the call to a second alarm to bring additional resources to the fire. As firefighters worked diligently to locate the main fire inside, other crews reported heavy fire conditions at the back of the home. An attached deck on the back of the house began to collapse, posing a safety hazard to working crews, as well as large, thick vegetation in the same area.
Firefighters located two adult victims on the second floor and, working in coordination, rescued the first person through a second-story window down a ground ladder to awaiting paramedics and firefighters. After handing off care of the first person to the awaiting paramedics, firefighters immediately worked to rescue the second person. To help move heated smoke and gases out of the home and improve visibility for all fire crews inside, electric fans were placed in the front doorway to provide pressurized air into the home. To facilitate the rescue of the second person, firefighters performed a “window conversion,” using chainsaws to cut a portion of the wall below a window to create a larger opening and provide more working space. With firefighters on multiple ladders and more accessibility after the conversion, they rescued the second person from the second story. Both people rescued suffered life-threatening injuries and were transported to local hospitals. Firefighters completed a thorough search of the home and did not report finding any additional victims.
Firefighters were able to locate and knock down the bulk of the fire, but given the extent of the fire throughout the home, they continued working to locate and extinguish hot spots. Nearly one hour after the first call to 911, firefighters extinguished this fire and continued salvage and overhaul operations. Firefighters will remain on scene throughout the night to watch for and extinguish any possible reignitions. During this incident, a second residential fire was reported in Hillsboro at an address unrelated to this fire. Firefighters were dispatched to that location with firefighters from Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Cornelius Fire Department, and Lake Oswego Fire Department.
Hillsboro Public Safety Chaplains responded to this incident to provide aid and support.
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 expresses its gratitude to its partners who responded to both incidents: Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Cornelius Fire Department, Lake Oswego Fire Department, Hillsboro Police, AMR Ambulance, Portland General Electric, NW Natural Gas, and Hillsboro Public Safety Chaplains.
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