At 12:53 am on August 16, 2017 firefighters were dispatched to multiple reports of fire from a house under construction in a newly developed neighborhood. Crews from Station 64 arrived near NW 169th Ave and NW Trillium St in North Bethany and found fire coming from the side and roof of a large, nearly finished, home under construction.
Firefighters began an aggressive attack on the fire and attempted to fight it from the interior. This initial attack allowed crews to perform a search and determine no occupants were in the home. However, due to worsening fire conditions and instability of the floor inside, crews were forced to withdraw to the exterior.
The fire was attacked from above to stop the fire in the attic space and from the exterior to protect adjacent homes. After the bulk of the fire was knocked down from the exterior, crews were able to re-enter the structure and extinguish the remaining hot spots. Continued safety hazards including a partial collapse of the roof and second floor slowed firefighters after re-entering. Ultimately, the fire took approximately 80 minutes from time of dispatch to declare the fire under control.
One firefighter exhibited an injury associated to the fire. As a precaution, the firefighter was transported by Metro West Ambulance to St. Vincent Hospital for evaluation of unspecified signs of exhaustion. In addition to Metro West Ambulance, TVF&R was assisted on scene by Hillsboro Fire Department.
Investigators will remain on scene through the morning to try and determine a cause as well as a damage estimate. Exact address of the affected home is to be determined and verified by investigators. The nearest cross street is NW 169th Ave and NW Trillium Street in Portland.