Fire breaks out in mixed-use building in Northeast Portland
»Play Video
PORTLAND, Ore. - Fire crews scrambled early Wednesday morning to put out a 2-alarm fire in a mixed-use building in Northeast Portland. No one was hurt.
Fire broke out in a building that had both apartments and businesses near NE 18th Avenue and Alberta Street just before 6 a.m.
Firefighters said the lower floor of the building, where "The Nest" tavern and a beauty shop are located, was where the fire started and the blaze was escalated to 2 alarms due to the age of the building and the amount of smoke.
"I didn't know what to expect but I'm glad at least I can see inside and there's stuff still left," said shop owner Stephanie Johnson.
The apartments on the second floor of the building were also affected.
However, three residents were evacuated and no injuries were reported. Police said no one was in the tavern at the time. A cat was given oxygen at the scene by firefighters.
A neighbor told KATU News that the tavern still allowed people to smoke inside but firefighters did not confirm that. The Red Cross is assisting the people forced from their apartments.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fire just "broke out". Hmmm...
Even if the tavern did allow smoking inside, which they didn't, that wouldn't be relevant so many hours after they were closed.
I wasn't there at the time either but live in the neighbor hood and stop in frequently and I agree with Rio. Â Never saw people smoke inside. Â That's what the big covered patio out back is for. Â It is b.s...
They did not let people smoke inside there. That was bs.
 @Riotricky You were there???
 @felines99  @RiotrickyÂ
What the heck is a "mixed use" bldg??? some sissy way to not hurt the bldg's feelings???:)
 @gbudavid I'm guessing it's used for both commercial purposes (like a tavern) and residential (like apartments).
 @nonpartisan  @gbudavid I know some people who use their house like that...part apartment, part tavern. ;-)
 @nonpartisan
@nonpartisanThis is true. Very common and becoming more common due to the economy with businesses operating on the ground floor, and tenants...sometimes the owner of the business, living on the upper floors. This was also very common before the industrial revolution and in the early US Western history. @gbudavidÂ