News Release from: Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue
TVF&R FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE 2-ALARM HOUSE FIRE IN NW UNINCORPORATED WASHINGTON COUNTY
Posted: September 29th, 2012 3:19 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-09/1214/58086/House_Fire_137th_NW_Portland.jpg (Firefighters extinguish 'hot spots." The west end, rear of the home and roof was engulfed with flames when firefighters arrived.)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-09/1214/58086/IMG_0109_%282%29.JPG (Firefighters used fire suppression foam to help extinguish the fire (front of the home))
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-09/1214/58086/House_Fire.jpg (Fire breaches the roof as firefighters arrive (front of the home))
At 9:55 am today, the Washington County 9-1-1 Center took numerous calls reporting that a home at 5216 NW 137th Avenue had heavy black smoke and fire coming from every window. As TVF&R crews were responding they could see a large column of black smoke. The first arriving crew, which came from Fire Station 68 approximately two miles away, found heavy fire engulfing the entire west end of the home and flames through the roof, spreading across the attic of the home. With numerous neighbors on site confirming to firefighters that no one was inside and knowing that the roof was likely minutes away from collapsing, the crew began an immediate exterior fire attack. Minutes later as they began to transition to inside the home, the roof on the west end collapsed, forcing them to continue with an exterior attack. Additionally, firefighters kept the fire spreading to the nearby, overhanging trees in the heavily forested neighborhood. Firefighters had the fire under control within 30 min
utes and then spent over an hour opening up walls, ceilings, and floor spaces to extinguish 'hot spots' throughout the large two-story home.
The owners of the home were not home at the time of the fire. They left this morning around 8 am for a family gathering in southern Oregon. The family's two dogs were able to escape the home before firefighters arrived and now are being cared for by neighbors.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this hour. Two fire investigators are on scene, interviewing neighbors and taking photos, until such time that they are able to begin processing the scene. Public Information Officer Karen Eubanks states, "Whatever caused this fire, had a significant head start on our firefighters." With noone home, it is likely that the fire smoldered for hours undetected, before it breached the home, and was eventully seen by neighbors living on the other side of the heavy trees and brush that surrounded the home. Eubanks adds,"The volume of fire when we arrived, made it next to impossible to save this home."
The home is considered a total loss.
# # #
Replies to this message do not go back to the sender.
Go to http://FlashAlert.net/login.html to change or delete these messages.
