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News Release

PF&R Rescues Resident In Early AM Housefire (Photo) - 06/08/26

PF&R Rescues resident in early AM housefire

 

Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a residential fire in the Lents Neighborhood at just after 5:30 this morning. BOEC dispatched crews with a reported housefire called in by a neighbor indicating a large tree in the front of the home with flames extending into the residence.

 

Station 11 with a fire engine and rescue located blocks away could see a large header or smoke column on their approach that indicated a working fire. The body of fire was so large out in the front of the home that the first arriving officer on the engine was unable to determine the size of the structure involved in the fire. The report to all other arriving crews was “large body of fire in a home of unknown stories”. The Rescue 11 officer who arrived just after Engine 11 quickly transmitted “Rescue 11 will go mobile and perform a quick 360 and update”.

 

The updated timestamped information transmitted by the Rescue 11 officer is below. This information was sent in order of importance and as follows (as transcribed in the dispatch call notes) that also incorporates information on the rescue:

  • 05:44:39 R11 B/URGENT TRAFF VICT ON BACK SIDE TRYING TO GET TO HIM
  • 05:45:21 R11 HOLD A MIN, NEED LADDER TO BACKSIDE TO GET ON ROOF, GETTING TO HIM NOW --- (Rescue Made)
  • 05:46:32 R11 1.5 STY W/BASEMENT FRONT SIDE WHERE FIRE SIDE IS GOING PRETTY GOOD - EXT INTO HALF STORY, GETTING LADDER TO VICT ON BRAVO SIDE

Station 25 arrived as the above information was being sent out and got to work assisting Station 11 with the incident. Members assigned to the engine worked toward establishing a water supply by connecting to the closest fire hydrant while members assigned to Truck 25 grabbed a 20’ straight ladder to perform the needed rescue. The male resident was located on the ledge of a roof with fire growing behind him, pushing out the window used to escape the flames. He was considering jumping from the roof structure with the Rescue 11 officer communicating the urgency of a ladder at the location to limit any potential injuries certain to be sustained by the jump from the roof that was a minimum 15’ above ground level. Truck 25 was able to get the ladder placed and assist the resident safely down the ladder as flames were pushing out the window around him and heavy smoke pushing out at the eave line just below where he was perched.

 

In a period of less than 2 minutes the Rescue 11 officer was able to inform the command officer of a rescue need, coordinate the rescue, and provide an update on the structure involved to the command officer who was unable to determine structure sized due to large body of fire in tree preventing a good view of the home involved in the incident.

 

Crews encountered a significant amount of clutter in the yard and throughout the home slowing access and the progress of extinguishment of the flames. Crews used saws to cut open holes in walls and floors to gain access, used ladders on the interior of the home with stairs completely burned out, and went through many air bottles as they worked to search the home and extinguish the fire.

 

The Fire Investigator determined this fire started on the exterior due to the use of an extension cord powering up a smaller dormitory style refrigerator. The extension cord failure led to a fire in the vegetation and other nearby fuels. This fire extended into multiple vehicles parked on the property and up the large tree with limbs hanging over the home and then extended into the home itself. PF&R would like to remind you that all appliances should be plugged directly into a grounded wall outlet and never use an extension cord as permanent wiring.

 

The primary challenges on this response was addressing the large body of fire with the excessive amount of clutter and fuels littered about throughout the property, both inside the home and within the fence line. The only injury reported was sustained by the occupant who cut their arm on the broken glass of the window used during the escape of the second story living space. The occupant denied the need for transport or elevated medical evaluation.

 

The successes seen through the challenges were the direct result of a quick arrival by the members of Engine and Rescue 11 along with Engine and Truck 25 shortly after. A coordinated effort made by the 14 members assigned to those 2 stations certainly saved the life of the resident. This speaks to the preplanned actions employed upon arrival of Rescues-Engines-Trucks (water supply-extinguishment-search and rescue etc) coordinating their efforts in tasks essential upon arrival. The ability to act smoothly and quickly in situations like this is not only in the planning of actions prior to arrival but that actual getting together and performing these types of tasks in multi company training exercises. Multi-company drills occur regularly throughout PF&R that allows crews from neighboring fire stations to connect and go through the paces of a “mock incident” so when we face a true emergency, our crews are well prepared to work together in addressing the emergency. This rescue is a direct reflection of preparation.

 

Portland Fire would like to thank the dispatchers at BOEC for their assistance in this incident along with PGE who responded to assist in de-energizing the home for our safe operation.

 

###

Attached Media Files: Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Remainder of the surge protector that was connected to the failed extension cord.,

PF&R Rescues Resident In Early AM Housefire (Photo) - 06/08/26

PF&R Rescues resident in early AM housefire

 

Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a residential fire in the Lents Neighborhood at just after 5:30 this morning. BOEC dispatched crews with a reported housefire called in by a neighbor indicating a large tree in the front of the home with flames extending into the residence.

 

Station 11 with a fire engine and rescue located blocks away could see a large header or smoke column on their approach that indicated a working fire. The body of fire was so large out in the front of the home that the first arriving officer on the engine was unable to determine the size of the structure involved in the fire. The report to all other arriving crews was “large body of fire in a home of unknown stories”. The Rescue 11 officer who arrived just after Engine 11 quickly transmitted “Rescue 11 will go mobile and perform a quick 360 and update”.

 

The updated timestamped information transmitted by the Rescue 11 officer is below. This information was sent in order of importance and as follows (as transcribed in the dispatch call notes) that also incorporates information on the rescue:

  • 05:44:39 R11 B/URGENT TRAFF VICT ON BACK SIDE TRYING TO GET TO HIM
  • 05:45:21 R11 HOLD A MIN, NEED LADDER TO BACKSIDE TO GET ON ROOF, GETTING TO HIM NOW --- (Rescue Made)
  • 05:46:32 R11 1.5 STY W/BASEMENT FRONT SIDE WHERE FIRE SIDE IS GOING PRETTY GOOD - EXT INTO HALF STORY, GETTING LADDER TO VICT ON BRAVO SIDE

Station 25 arrived as the above information was being sent out and got to work assisting Station 11 with the incident. Members assigned to the engine worked toward establishing a water supply by connecting to the closest fire hydrant while members assigned to Truck 25 grabbed a 20’ straight ladder to perform the needed rescue. The male resident was located on the ledge of a roof with fire growing behind him, pushing out the window used to escape the flames. He was considering jumping from the roof structure with the Rescue 11 officer communicating the urgency of a ladder at the location to limit any potential injuries certain to be sustained by the jump from the roof that was a minimum 15’ above ground level. Truck 25 was able to get the ladder placed and assist the resident safely down the ladder as flames were pushing out the window around him and heavy smoke pushing out at the eave line just below where he was perched.

 

In a period of less than 2 minutes the Rescue 11 officer was able to inform the command officer of a rescue need, coordinate the rescue, and provide an update on the structure involved to the command officer who was unable to determine structure sized due to large body of fire in tree preventing a good view of the home involved in the incident.

 

Crews encountered a significant amount of clutter in the yard and throughout the home slowing access and the progress of extinguishment of the flames. Crews used saws to cut open holes in walls and floors to gain access, used ladders on the interior of the home with stairs completely burned out, and went through many air bottles as they worked to search the home and extinguish the fire.

 

The Fire Investigator determined this fire started on the exterior due to the use of an extension cord powering up a smaller dormitory style refrigerator. The extension cord failure led to a fire in the vegetation and other nearby fuels. This fire extended into multiple vehicles parked on the property and up the large tree with limbs hanging over the home and then extended into the home itself. PF&R would like to remind you that all appliances should be plugged directly into a grounded wall outlet and never use an extension cord as permanent wiring.

 

The primary challenges on this response was addressing the large body of fire with the excessive amount of clutter and fuels littered about throughout the property, both inside the home and within the fence line. The only injury reported was sustained by the occupant who cut their arm on the broken glass of the window used during the escape of the second story living space. The occupant denied the need for transport or elevated medical evaluation.

 

The successes seen through the challenges were the direct result of a quick arrival by the members of Engine and Rescue 11 along with Engine and Truck 25 shortly after. A coordinated effort made by the 14 members assigned to those 2 stations certainly saved the life of the resident. This speaks to the preplanned actions employed upon arrival of Rescues-Engines-Trucks (water supply-extinguishment-search and rescue etc) coordinating their efforts in tasks essential upon arrival. The ability to act smoothly and quickly in situations like this is not only in the planning of actions prior to arrival but that actual getting together and performing these types of tasks in multi company training exercises. Multi-company drills occur regularly throughout PF&R that allows crews from neighboring fire stations to connect and go through the paces of a “mock incident” so when we face a true emergency, our crews are well prepared to work together in addressing the emergency. This rescue is a direct reflection of preparation.

 

Portland Fire would like to thank the dispatchers at BOEC for their assistance in this incident along with PGE who responded to assist in de-energizing the home for our safe operation.

 

###

Attached Media Files: Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Lents Neighborhood Housefire, Remainder of the surge protector that was connected to the failed extension cord.,