Offensive fire attack crews making entry of front door of home showing heavy fire through the roof.

Overnight Residential Fire in Cully Neighborhood

At just before 1 AM, Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a residential house fire in the Cully Neighborhood of NE PDX. Crews arrived to find a large amount of fire showing through the roof on the backside of a residential home with the roof structure over the garage already being compromised and partially collapsed. Crews attached to a hydrant and began pulling hose to cool and extinguish the flames.

Crews initially began an interior attack taking fire hose lines inside the home to extinguish the flames while quickly pulling lines to the back of the home to protect the neighboring structure that was located within 10’ of this home on fire. Interior crews performing a search for residents reported extreme clutter while exterior crews described the main body of contained to the back portions of the home and garage. The initial search indicated all residents were safely out of the home. 

Interior and exterior hose lines were used to perform a fire attack. Excessive fuel load with the cluttered rooms prevented initial crews the ability to get to the backside of the home on the interior with fire attack lines. Within minutes of starting an interior fire attack, heavy fire was showing throughout the entire roof structure. Crews were directed to withdraw with all tools and fire hose lines due to heavy fire through the entire roof structure in concerns of a collapse while crews were working on the interior. All crews safely exited the structure with their tools and hose lines and an exterior or defensive attack strategy ensued. There was a partial collapse of the roof above the living spaces which now amounted to an estimated 70% of the roof had collapsed over the structure due to fire damage.

An exterior entry to the basement was located and crews entered to perform a search and fire attack if needed. Their search found no one inside and there was little fire involvement in the basement, so crews safely exited and continued to work on extinguishing the flames from an exterior position.

Crews took handlines to an exterior elevated position from a neighboring home roof to protect the exposure home while a safe offensive fire attack resumed to stop the fire from growing on the interior. Crews pulled the ceiling material away as they entered and advanced to extinguish flames overhead while also attacking the fire that was present on the main level of the home. Much of the fire was extinguished with crews safely working from the interior and exterior with the fire being safely brought under control. Small fires were present on the driveway with vehicles parked with leaking fuel tanks and other flammable products on the ground. NW Natural and the local power company arrived on scene to help us interrupt the utilities to prevent any danger to the crews or neighbors.

The Fire Investigations Unit is on scene evaluating the area of origin to determine cause. The areas that are unsafe to enter due to structural instability are showing occasional flare ups, so a crew remains on scene to keep that area under control until the investigation process is complete. 

The home sharing a property line on the backside of the home on fire was evacuated for the safety of the residents with the large amount of fire impinging on the residence on the back side of the fire address. Quick deployment of an exposure fire hose line limited the damage to some slight melting of siding and this home remains in livable condition.  

There were no injuries reported of residents or crews that responded. The Red Cross has been contacted to assist with 2 adults being displaced. Portland Fire & Rescue would like to thank Pacific Power and NW Natural along with the Portland Police Bureau for their help in addressing this emergency overnight. 

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