Just after 12:15 p.m. today, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched to a one-story residence in the 7000 block of Northeast Dog Ridge Road in Newberg on reports of a fire originating in the basement. Based on reports, fire crews upgraded the incident to a first alarm to bring additional resources to the scene. The incident was upgraded to a second alarm due to difficulties accessing the scene.
On arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke and fire on three sides, spreading from the daylight basement to the first floor. Working from outside of the structure, crews were able to quickly knock down the flames, enabling them to enter the home, perform a search for occupants, and completely extinguish the fire. No occupants were found inside the home.
Water shuttle operations were utilized to provide water at the scene due to the location of the residence and lack of hydrants in the nearby area.
The homeowner, who evacuated the residence prior to firefighters arriving, was evaluated for smoke inhalation but was not transported to the hospital. A couple pets safely escaped the home with the resident. However, one cat remains missing.
Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby structures and trees. Crews remained on scene to extinguish hot spots and ensure no additional fire spread.
TVF&R fire investigators responded and are working to determine the cause of the fire.