Second-Alarm Residential Fire On NW 97th Avenu (Photo) - 08/20/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched early this morning to reports of a residential structure fire on NW 97th Avenue after a neighbor called 911 reporting heavy fire coming from the roof of the home. The caller was unsure whether anyone was inside.

The first arriving firefighters reached the scene approximately eight minutes after the initial 911 call and found heavy fire involving the front of the residence, with flames extending from multiple windows and through the roof.

Crews immediately initiated an exterior fire attack to knock down the bulk of the flames while additional firefighters entered from the rear of the home to search all habitable areas. Initial information indicated there were vehicles associated with the residence and that an elderly resident might be home.

The incident was upgraded to a second alarm to bring additional personnel and resources to the scene. During a thorough search, firefighters confirmed there were no vehicles in the garage or driveway and no occupants were located inside the home. The residence was ultimately determined to have been unoccupied at the time of the fire.

The fire was brought under control at approximately 3:54 a.m. Crews remained on scene for several additional hours identifying and extinguishing remaining hot spots and completing extensive overhaul to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Due to the location of the incident, TVF&R was assisted by Portland Fire & Rescue, and both AMR and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were also on scene to assist.

*Updates made for time when the fire was deemed under control.

Video: Landfill Fire Sends Embers Into Nearby Field, Sparking 25-Acre Brush Fire - 08/08/26

Dozens of firefighters responded Saturday afternoon to a fire at a waste management facility in Washington County that sent embers into a nearby 40-acre field of cut grass, igniting a spot fire that grew into a larger brush fire. Approximately 25 acres of the field burned.

At around 4:20 p.m., 911 dispatchers began receiving multiple reports of a large column of black smoke coming from the area of the landfill on Southwest Minter Bridge Road. Firefighters arrived to find a fire at the landfill and soon identified a spot fire caused by embers landing in the dry grass south of the landfill.

The spot fire quickly grew and spread through the nearby field of cut grass. Gusty winds contributed to the fire's spread, allowing flames to move rapidly through the grass and creating additional spot fires.

As the brush fire made a run toward nearby residences, two homes were evacuated as a precaution. Fire crews established structure protection around the homes and successfully prevented the fire from damaging either residence.

Due to the rural location and terrain, firefighters used brush rigs, engines, water tenders and other resources to attack the brush fire from multiple directions.

The landfill portion of the fire covered a little more than one acre. Two bulldozers were used to contain the fire, which consisted of trash and tires.

By the evening, crews had stopped the forward progress of the brush fire and were conducting mop-up operations.

One Hillsboro firefighter working at the landfill fire suffered minor injuries related to overexertion in the heat. The firefighter was assessed on scene.

A fire investigator is working to determine the cause of the landfill fire.

SW Minter Bridge Road was temporarily closed during the response to provide a safe operating area for firefighters and emergency equipment. The Washington County Sheriff's Office assisted with traffic control.

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue was assisted by Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Cornelius Fire Department and Forest Grove Fire & Rescue. The Beaverton Police Department provided a drone to assist with aerial size-up and situational awareness. TVF&R also thanks WCCCA for its dispatch coordination during the incident.

Drone footage and scene video available here.

Update: Victim Located In Fatal West Linn House Fire (Photo) - 07/31/26

Update: On Friday, July 31, firefighters continued search operations and recovered the victim of the residential fire on Quail Ridge Court in West Linn. A TVF&R chaplain has notified the next of kin. The dog is presumed deceased. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

For further questions on the victim’s identity, please refer to West Linn Police Department.

Residential Fire in West Linn Remains Under Investigation; One Resident and Dog Missing (Photo)

West Linn, OR — Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue responded today to reports of a residential structure fire in the 3300 block of Quail Ridge Drive in West Linn. Initial reports indicated the homeowners had safely evacuated the residence, but one re-entered the home in an attempt to rescue a family dog.

The first arriving crews found a large residence with heavy fire involving the rear of the home, dense smoke pushing from the roof, and fire extending into the attic. The incident was immediately upgraded to a second alarm due to reports of a missing occupant and the large size of the home. Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior fire attack while simultaneously conducting a search for the reported occupant.

As fire conditions rapidly deteriorated and the structure became increasingly unstable, the search had to be suspended due to the imminent risk of structural collapse. Command transitioned operations to a defensive strategy, with firefighters attacking the fire from the exterior to protect personnel and limit further fire spread. Firefighters worked for nearly three hours to bring the fire under control.

At this time, one resident and one dog remain unaccounted for. Firefighters are conducting a systematic search of the structure as conditions allow, but their efforts continue to be hampered by extensive fire damage and collapse hazards.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

TVF&R was assisted on scene by Lake Oswego Fire Department, Clackamas Fire District, West Linn Police Department, and AMR.