Saturday, August 27, 2016

'Smoker's carelessness' causes 2-alarm fire displacing 8 in SW Portland







A fire along Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway damaged apartments Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Portland Fire & Rescue
Therese Bottomly | The Oregonian/OregonLive

By Kale Williams | The Oregonian/OregonLive
 
on August 27, 2016 at 9:03 AM, updated August 27, 2016 at 2:48 PM




A 2-alarm fire caused by a "smoker's carelessness" damaged three units in a Southwest Portland Apartment building and displaced eight people Saturday morning, officials said.

Portland Fire and Rescue first reported the blaze around 7 a.m. with multiple crews responding to an apartment complex on the 5000 block of Beaverton Hillsdale Highway. About 20 minutes later, firefighters called for a second alarm as the fire grew.

Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control by about 7:45 a.m. and no injuries were reported, though seven adults and one teenager were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross would be assisting the victims to find shelter, Portland Fire and Rescue reported on Twitter.

Eastbound lanes of Beaverton Hillsdale Highway reopened by 9 a.m., but westbound lanes remained closed between 45th Avenue and Shattuck Road and weren't expected to reopen until around 10 a.m.

Investigators believe the fire was caused by when a lit cigarette was discarded on a deck.

Another apartment fire displaced 14 people — 10 adults, four children and their pets — in Milwaukie Friday evening. Crews responded to the blaze on the 4800 block of Southeast Boardman Ave near Mclaughlin Boulevard around 6 p.m.

A Trimet bus with air conditioning was brought in to keep the residents cool while firefighters battled the blaze, according to a report from KATU, and the Red Cross came in to help those displaced by the fire.