Observant Office Employee Acts Quickly, Pulls Fire Alarm To Alert Others (Photo) - 06/30/26

Just after 1:00 p.m. today, an employee at a commercial office complex at 1915 NE Stucki Avenue noticed dark smoke rising from the roof of a nearby office building, growing quickly in size. Sensing something wasn’t right, he called 911 and relayed the information to the call taker, who then shared it via dispatch with firefighters en route to the location. The caller did not see anyone evacuating the building and suspected that no one inside the building knew about the fire. He pulled the fire alarm to activate the alert system. Additional calls began coming into 911, reporting that they could see smoke rising from the building's roof.

The first arriving engine didn’t initially see the smoke, and the officer completed a 360-degree evaluation of the target building. A battalion chief on the opposite side of the building then found smoke and charring on the east side. After being upgraded to a first alarm, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue Truck 5 and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Truck 68 extended their aerial ladders, and firefighters ascended to the roof. There, they found active fire and began advancing hose lines up the aerial ladders to extinguish it. Other firefighters began searching for potential fire extension and began evacuating all floors as a safety precaution. The incident commander then upgraded the call to a second alarm to request additional firefighters to supplement resources already assigned. Firefighters connected to a fire hydrant, then to the building’s fire suppression system via external fire department connections (FDCs). Firefighters working inside the building who were checking for extension used thermal imaging cameras to confirm that the fire had not advanced into the attic space. All four floors of the building were evacuated safely.

One firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries at the call and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment. No other injuries were reported.

A team of Hillsboro Fire & Rescue investigators arrived on scene to help determine the cause of the fire. Two of the fire investigators, who are bilingual in Spanish, were also able to gather information during interviews that provided helpful insights into the investigation. There is no official cause, and the fire remains under investigation.

Hillsboro Public Safety Chaplains responded to the incident to provide aid and support to the building occupants. Once the firefighters confirmed that it was safe to re-enter the building, many people were allowed back to their offices.

Hillsboro Fire & Rescue reminds everyone to know two ways out of every structure, not just your home.

• Look for exit placards and lighted exit signs to indicate a safe way out.
• If you exit through a closed fire door, remember to reclose it to help prevent smoke and fire from spreading.
• Once outside, stay outside and meet at your designated meeting place or family meeting place. Call 911 from a safe distance and don’t re-enter the structure.

Thanks to Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Hillsboro Police, AMR Ambulance, and Hillsboro Public Safety Chaplains for assisting at the incident.

-###-