One Dead, 11 Displaced After SE Portland Apartment Fire

Unfortunately, a 50-year-old man suffered severe burn injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

At 3:09 a.m. Friday morning, Portland firefighters were dispatched to an apartment fire at 2530 SE 125th Ave. Photo Courtesy: Portland Fire and Rescue

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - At 3:09 a.m. Friday morning, Portland firefighters were dispatched to an apartment fire at 2530 SE 125th Ave.

Fire crews found heavy fire showing from the windows of a 2nd story unit when they arrived. One of the 911 callers reported that she could not get out of her apartment and was on the phone with emergency dispatchers when firefighters arrived and rescued her and her 4-year-old son.

While performing search and rescue operations, the crew of Truck 7 found an unconscious man inside the apartment. The crew immediately carried him outside for another fire crew to begin resuscitative efforts. Unfortunately, the 50-year-old man suffered severe burn injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The fire was contained to just the one apartment of the 8 unit complex, however, 11 residents were displaced due to extensive smoke damage and are currently being assisted by the Red Cross.

Because of the warm weather, two neighbors had windows open which allowed smoke to enter their apartments, activating their smoke alarms, and alerting them to the fire early, where they then took action to activate a fire alarm pull station alerting all other neighbors.

Despite having a working smoke alarm in the designated sleeping area in the apartment where the fire began, the man was sleeping in a living area, not required to have smoke alarms.

Portland Fire & Rescue Chief Erin Janssens commended the fire crews quick actions for containing the fire to the apartment of origin and successful rescue of the occupants in the adjoining apartments where they were threatened from hot, toxic smoke and gases and fire spread.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the fire victim. The quick response and actions of neighbors and our fire crews kept this fire from taking additional lives. Please be sure to have smoke alarms in any area you may sleep, including an occasional nap. Today’s tragedy highlights the importance of prevention efforts and rapid response of highly trained crews to any emergency” Janssens said.

The cause of this apartment fire has been determined to be abandoned/discarded smoking material.

Source: Portland Fire Department

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