Defective Chimney Causes Oregon House Blaze

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UPDATED WITH CAUSE & DAMAGES
December 28, 2011
10:13 AM  

The residential fire at 4829 NE Mallory Avenue was due to a defective chimney.  According to Portland fire investigators, a fire was lit in a woodstove, traveled up the chimney, and then progressed outside of the chimney into the upstairs bedroom. There were no working smoke alarms in the home at the time of the fire. Damages are estimated at $12,000.  

Portland fire investigators have not yet determined the causes of the residential fires at 9909 N Smith Street and 933 SE Reynolds Street.   

Smoke alarms did alert residents during the fire on N. Smith Street. Damages are estimated at $35,000.   At this time, it is unknown whether smoke alarms alerted residents during the fire on SE Reynolds Street. Damages are estimated at $230,000. 

December 28, 2011
2:00 AM  

At 11:13 pm, Portland firefighters were dispatched to 4829 NE Mallory Avenue after a 9-1-1 caller indicated that the house was filling with smoke and the attic ceiling was hot to the touch.    The caller stated that the house on fire was just eight feet from a neighboring home and it was very windy, so neighbors were notified to evacuate as well.  

Firefighters from Portland Fire Station 14 (Alberta Park) arrived first on scene in just four minutes at 11:17 pm to find fire coming through the roof of the home.  When firefighters from Portland Fire Station 8 (Kenton) arrived on scene, Truck 8 firefighters laddered to the roof and had to cut their way through a double roof to vent the smoke and heat, allowing engine crews inside to battle the blaze with hose lines.  

A male in his teens was reportedly in the middle of a home dialysis treatment at the time of the fire.  Firefighters were able to locate the boy's dialysis equipment inside the home and safely return it to him, while other firefighter/paramedics assessed the boy's medical condition.  An ambulance was called to the scene, but the patient did not require transport to a hospital.  

The fire was brought under control at 11:38 pm.  Preliminary reports indicate that a fire spread outside the chimney and grew out of control, involving the upper stories of the home.  

Shortly thereafter, another residential fire was reported around midnight at 9909 N Smith St.  Firefighters from Portland Fire Station 22 (St. Johns) arrived with Truck 22 in just five minutes to find a fully involved house fire.  Truck 22 firefighters had the roof of the home opened up within seven minutes of arriving on scene, allowing engine firefighters to attack the heavy fire on the home's second floor.  The fire was brought under control at 12:23 am.  All occupants and pets were able to safely evacuate.   

Just eight minutes after the fire broke out in St. Johns, another residential fire was dispatched at 12:08 am.  A man reported that he had just arrived home to find thick, dark smoke coming from an upstairs window at 933 SE Reynolds St.  He pounded on the door to make sure his roommate had escaped.  Firefighters from Portland Fire Station 20 (Sellwood) arrived to find smoke and flames pouring from the upstairs windows.   

Firefighters from Portland Fire Station 25 (Lents) arrived a short time later.  While Engine 25 firefighters pulled multiple hose lines, Truck 25 firefighters laddered to begin opening up the roof of this large home.  An additional ladder truck was requested by the Incident Commander at 12:26 am to help battle this fire.  The second truck traveled from Portland Fire Station 4 (Portland State) in downtown Portland to assist alongside Truck 25.   

A safety advisory to firefighters was issued when it was determined that a hole had burned through the floor between the first floor and the basement, creating a hazard for firefighters inside.   Additionally, one firefighter received minor injuries to his hand while fighting the fire.   

Although all the occupants safely escaped, two cats were reportedly inside at the time of the fire.  Firefighters confirmed that one of the cats is deceased and are working to locate the second pet.  Volunteers from the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) are on scene to help individuals cope with the loss of the pet.  The fire was brought under control at 12:50 am; however, fire crews will remain on scene for the next several hours monitoring for hot spots. Fire investigators are on scene working to determine the cause of the fire and damage estimates.  

"These fires broke out extremely close together, and on all sides of the city, tapping nearly half of our fire crews at once," said Portland Fire Battalion Chief Tom Williams.  "Tonight we were able to manage our resources appropriately to battle these blazes and continue responding to all types of emergencies." 



Author:Portland Fire & Rescue Press Release