House fire forces man to leap to safety

PORTLAND, Ore. - A West Hills house fire forced a man trapped inside to jump from his burning window to save his own life.

The fire broke out around 7 p.m. at a home in the 2900 block of Northwest Luray Terrace in the West Hills of Portland.

Flames cut off a suspended walkway, the only exit to the house. Witnesses said the man cried for help as he sat on the edge of a window.

"I was shaking," said Lech Kaiel, a neighbor. "I said, 'don't jump man because the fire trucks were just pulling up, but he couldn't see them from where he was."

Neighbors tried to help the trapped man, but the smoke and flames were too intense.

"He was just engulfed in smoke and he had no choice but to jump," said Rose Rustin, another neighbor.

The trapped man jumped 40 feet from his window before landing on a steep hill. He rolled down the slope, which helped soften his plunge to safety. The man was then taken to the hospital for a few broken bones.  

Narrow streets and steep hills also made it hard for firefighters to reach the home.  

The fire was out within a few hours, but flames consumed much of the house. Firefighters are not sure if the stilts on which the home rests can continue to support it. Crews plan to stay through the night to monitor the home.

Although firefighters do not know what exactly sparked the fire, a gas main was on fire during the blaze.