14 Residents Displaced After Transient Fire Spreads to Apartments in Portland

Portland, Oregon- Last night, a fire that began in a transient camp near a building at 10030 SE Division Street quickly escalated, resulting in significant damage to a six-unit apartment building and displacing approximately 14 residents.

At around 9:00 PM, a single-engine fire company was initially dispatched to respond to a reported campfire. However, en route, the situation intensified when additional information indicated that the fire had spread to the nearby building. The response was upgraded to a full structure alarm, indicating a more serious and widespread incident.

Upon arrival, fire crews discovered that the fire had indeed spread, climbing the side of the building and infiltrating the attic space. Truck 7 conducted a thorough search of all units, ensuring that all residents were safely evacuated. Concurrently, other crews worked to extinguish the fire.

Due to the weather temperatures experienced earlier in the day and the extensive efforts required to pull down ceilings and fully extinguish the flames, a second alarm was called as a precaution.

The fire’s rapid spread was attributed to the proximity of the transient camp to the apartment building. Complicating the firefighting efforts, all six gas meters supplying the building were damaged, causing gas to flow freely and posing an additional hazard. Despite these challenges, the fire was successfully brought under control without any reported injuries.

Of the six units in the building, five were occupied at the time of the fire. All residents have been displaced. The Red Cross was called in to assist those affected by the incident, providing aid to the approximately 14 individuals who were forced to leave their homes.

The exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are currently under investigation.