NE Portland apartment fire leaves 11 homeless

This is a press release courtesy of Portland Fire and Rescue

At 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Portland Firefighters responded to the report of an apartment on fire at 4415 Northeast 88th Avenue.

When firefighters arrived, they reported fire coming from the doors, windows, and the roof of the building.

A quick attack was made on the fire and at the same time firefighters began searching for anyone that may be trapped in the building.

Reports from occupants that all of the residents were accounted for allowed firefighters to concentrate their efforts on limiting the fire spread.

The fire found its way into the attic which is a tough place to fight a fire. Firefighters cut holes in the roof from above the fire and worked in the apartments below by pulling the sheetrock ceilings down to give access to the underside of the roof structure.

Two of the apartment units suffered heavy damage from fire and smoke, the other two units were moderately damaged. Firefighters used plastic sheeting to cover the belongings in the units in an attempt to limit the damage to the occupants’ belongings.

Fire Investigators are on the scene conducting their investigation, including interviewing the 11 occupants of the structure.

Fire Investigators determined that the fire waas accidental caused by 'improper disposal of a cigarette'. One of the occupants had disgarded a cigarette in a cardboard box which ignited and spread to a sofa and then to the structure.

The Oregon Trail Chapter of The Red Cross sent four volunteers to the scene. Because of the number of displaced residents, they set up a rehab center at the nearby Howard Johnson Hotel to assist the occupants and to help with shelter, clothing and food for the next few days.