Portland Fire & Rescue

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News Release

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds To Second?Alarm Residential Fire In Mill Park (Photo) - 10/16/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to Second‑Alarm Residential Fire in Mill Park

 

Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) responded early this morning to a fast‑moving residential fire in the Mill Park neighborhood after a backyard shed fire, driven by steady winds, rapidly extended to a home and threatened multiple structures. The incident escalated to a second alarm as embers ignited spot fires downwind, ultimately displacing three residents and sending one neighboring occupant to the hospital for smoke‑related respiratory concerns. The fire was brought under control within 20 minutes, and the cause remains under investigation.

 

In the early minutes of the response at approximately 4:28 a.m., crews from east‑side PF&R stations and mutual‑aid partners from Gresham Fire arrived to find a shed fully involved with flames impinging on the adjacent home and being pushed by wind toward a second residence. Recognizing the rapid fire growth and exposure risks, the first‑arriving officer upgraded the assignment to a first‑alarm residential fire, adding additional apparatus and command staff. As the wind intensified, embers caused multiple spot fires and a large body of fire advanced toward a neighboring home, prompting the incident commander to request a second alarm. This brought more than two dozen additional firefighters to the scene.

 

Engine 7 reported significant fire conditions on arrival near SE 141st Avenue and Harrison Street, finding flames extending from the shed into an overhead awning and into the elevated living space of the primary home. Crews quickly established a water supply, deployed hose lines for exterior fire attacks, and made interior entry to stop the fire's progression. Downwind, firefighters worked to prevent fire extension into the neighboring home while simultaneously addressing spot fires ignited by airborne embers. During the fire, overhead power lines were damaged and collapsed; PGE was requested promptly to deenergize the lines, while a dedicated safety team ensured firefighter protection in the affected area.

 

Within approximately 20 minutes, the main body of fire was knocked down, though wind‑fed hotspots required persistent attention throughout the scene. Three occupants of the primary home were displaced, and one neighboring resident experienced significant smoke exposure requiring hospital evaluation.

 

Portland Fire & Rescue extends its gratitude to the dispatchers at BOEC, whose coordination supported the complex, multi‑location response; to PGE personnel for their rapid de‑energization of compromised power lines; and to Gresham Fire for their invaluable mutual‑aid assistance on both alarm assignments.

 

PF&R reminds the community that although the recreational burn ban was lifted yesterday, steady winds can quickly turn small outdoor fires into dangerous situations. Anyone choosing to have an outdoor recreational fire should maintain safe distances—at least 15 feet from structures or significant vegetation for portable fireplaces and 25 feet for ground fire rings—keep a charged hose line nearby and never place a fire beneath tree canopies. The safest choice is to wait until winds have fully calmed before enjoying an outdoor fire.

 

Attached Media Files: Shed fire extending into homes and overhead powerlines., Shed fire extending into homes and overhead powerlines., Shed fire extending into homes and overhead powerlines., Shed fire extending into homes and overhead powerlines.,

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds To Second?Alarm Residential Fire In Mill Park (Photo) - 10/16/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to Second‑Alarm Residential Fire in Mill Park

 

Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) responded early this morning to a fast‑moving residential fire in the Mill Park neighborhood after a backyard shed fire, driven by steady winds, rapidly extended to a home and threatened multiple structures. The incident escalated to a second alarm as embers ignited spot fires downwind, ultimately displacing three residents and sending one neighboring occupant to the hospital for smoke‑related respiratory concerns. The fire was brought under control within 20 minutes, and the cause remains under investigation.

 

In the early minutes of the response at approximately 4:28 a.m., crews from east‑side PF&R stations and mutual‑aid partners from Gresham Fire arrived to find a shed fully involved with flames impinging on the adjacent home and being pushed by wind toward a second residence. Recognizing the rapid fire growth and exposure risks, the first‑arriving officer upgraded the assignment to a first‑alarm residential fire, adding additional apparatus and command staff. As the wind intensified, embers caused multiple spot fires and a large body of fire advanced toward a neighboring home, prompting the incident commander to request a second alarm. This brought more than two dozen additional firefighters to the scene.

 

Engine 7 reported significant fire conditions on arrival near SE 141st Avenue and Harrison Street, finding flames extending from the shed into an overhead awning and into the elevated living space of the primary home. Crews quickly established a water supply, deployed hose lines for exterior fire attacks, and made interior entry to stop the fire's progression. Downwind, firefighters worked to prevent fire extension into the neighboring home while simultaneously addressing spot fires ignited by airborne embers. During the fire, overhead power lines were damaged and collapsed; PGE was requested promptly to deenergize the lines, while a dedicated safety team ensured firefighter protection in the affected area.

 

Within approximately 20 minutes, the main body of fire was knocked down, though wind‑fed hotspots required persistent attention throughout the scene. Three occupants of the primary home were displaced, and one neighboring resident experienced significant smoke exposure requiring hospital evaluation.

 

Portland Fire & Rescue extends its gratitude to the dispatchers at BOEC, whose coordination supported the complex, multi‑location response; to PGE personnel for their rapid de‑energization of compromised power lines; and to Gresham Fire for their invaluable mutual‑aid assistance on both alarm assignments.

 

PF&R reminds the community that although the recreational burn ban was lifted yesterday, steady winds can quickly turn small outdoor fires into dangerous situations. Anyone choosing to have an outdoor recreational fire should maintain safe distances—at least 15 feet from structures or significant vegetation for portable fireplaces and 25 feet for ground fire rings—keep a charged hose line nearby and never place a fire beneath tree canopies. The safest choice is to wait until winds have fully calmed before enjoying an outdoor fire.

 

Attached Media Files: Shed fire extending into homes and overhead powerlines., Shed fire extending into homes and overhead powerlines., Shed fire extending into homes and overhead powerlines., Shed fire extending into homes and overhead powerlines.,