At 3:05 a.m. today, Tualatin Valley Fire &Rescue crews responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a fast-moving fire in an apartment building near Southwest 201st Avenue and West Baseline Road in Aloha.
The first call came from a resident in an upstairs unit who discovered their balcony on fire, with flames spreading from an apartment below.
When firefighters arrived, they found two apartments fully involved and fire already pushing through the roof of the two-story, eight-unit building. Crews immediately began fire attack and search and rescue operations while evacuating residents. As the fire continued to rapidly spread, a second and third alarm were called to bring in additional units and personnel.
By 5:07 a.m., firefighters had the fire under control. Crews remained on site for several hours, conducting overhaul and checking for hot spots.
Two patients were assessed at the scene, and one was transported to a local hospital for non-fire-related needs. In total, eight units were affected by fire, smoke, and water damage. The building is a total loss, and 17 people were displaced. One pet cat was also found safe. The American Red Cross is providing temporary shelter and assistance to those affected.
Thank you to Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Hillsboro Police, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Portland General Electric, Northwest Natural Gas, and American Medical Response who responded and provided assistance on scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.