Story Published: Nov 20, 2009 at 11:27 AM PDT
Story Updated: Nov 20, 2009 at 11:27 AM PDT
PORTLAND, Ore. - An overnight 2-alarm fire in the Raleigh Hills area of Washington County caused severe damage to one apartment and left a number of people homeless.
The fire happened at the Montclaire Terrace Apartments, located at 4835 SW Oleson Road in Portland.
No one was hurt in the fire that started just before 4 a.m. on an end unit of the third story. The damage was severe to one unit, but there may be some additional damage to the adjacent unit's balcony. There are 18 units in the building that was on fire.
"Fire crews are really wrapping up their part of the activity here," said Walt Peck of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue just after 6 a.m. "Our investigators are on scene now and they've actually done a preliminary walk of the apartment."
Peck also said the next process of the fire crews is what's called a "dig out" where they will sift through the various levels of fire damage and try to determine a cause of the fire.
Several people living in units in the building are not being allowed back in while the structural integrity of the building is assessed. They are being assisted by the Red Cross.