Firefighters fought two unrelated fires last night. Fortunately, no one was injured as a result of either fire. The first fire started just after 11:30 p.m. in the 14000 block of NW Melody Lane in unincorporated Washington County. Callers to 911 reported seeing flames and smoke coming from the back of a two-story residence. Firefighters quickly arrived and immediately began an aggressive fire attack while searching for victims. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control within 45 minutes.
No occupants were in the home at the time of the fire. The fire generated extensive damage and the cause is still under investigation. TVF&R was assisted on scene by Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (911 dispatch), Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, Portland General Electric, and MetroWest Ambulance.
The second fire started just after 4:30 a.m. at an apartment complex in the 2000 block of SW 185th Avenue in Beaverton. Multiple callers to 911 reported hearing smoke alarms and could see flames as well as black smoke. The incident was immediately upgraded to a first alarm to bring in adequate resources to the scene.
Firefighters arrived within five minutes to find active flames coming from the exterior deck of a first story apartment unit. Those flames spread to the attic space of the unit and into a separate second story apartment within the same building. Crews began aggressive fire attack measures, gaining control of the fire in just under 25 minutes.
Two apartment units received substantial damaged during the fire and have been deemed uninhabitable. Due to the power being cut off, occupants in a third unit without fire damage also had to be relocated. A total of five adults were displaced from three units of the apartment complex. Red Cross provided temporary housing and other essential assistance to affected residents. TVF&R was assisted on scene by Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency, Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, MetroWest Ambulance, and Portland General Electric.
A TVF&R fire investigator has determined the cause of the fire on SW 185th Avenue in Beaverton was most likely caused by improperly discarded smoking materials.
Fortunately, the apartments had working smoke alarms which providing warning and allowed residents and neighbors time to safely evacuate. The apartment complex did not have a fire sprinkler system. When a fire sprinkler system is present, the likelihood of injuries and costly damage is dramatically reduced. More information about fire sprinkler systems can be found at: http://www.tvfr.com/index.aspx?nid=144
NW Melody Lane residential fire pictures below:
SW 185th Ave apartment fire pictures below:
