Old-Portland apartments burn in morning fire | Real Estate

Photos courtesy of Chad Kirkpatrick of "Witness to Beauty Photography and Design."

PORTLAND, Ore. - A historic multi-plex in inner Northwest Portland burned Sunday morning - displacing 18 people from eight apartments, according to a Red Cross source.

And it all started with a lit cigarette, fire investigators now report.

At 7:34 a.m., Portland Fire and Rescue responded to a report of an apartment fire at 2068 N.W. Flanders St. Three fire engines, three fire trucks, a rehab rig and about 35 firefighters showed up at the scene to fight the blaze, according to a Portland Fire press release.

The release reports that "when crews arrived at 7:37 [a.m.] the front of the third floor was showing heavy fire. The first arriving engine company hit the fire quickly from the exterior before entering the structure for an interior attack. Due to electrical wires in front of the building, and difficult access on either side of the apartment building, gaining access to the fire from the exterior presented a challenge to the crews. 

"There were initial reports from tenants that someone may have still been on the second floor. After searches were conducted, all floors were found to be clear.  Getting to the final areas of the fire were tedious and time consuming for the firefighters. After calling additional resources to the fire scene, it was determined to be under control at 8:45 a.m."

Fire crews continued working at the complex through Sunday morning, and investigators arrived at the scene to determine the cause of the fire.

The American Red Cross' Oregon Trail Chapter also responded. Red Cross volunteers set up a command station at Northwest 20th Avenue and Flanders Street as it helped those displaced by the fire.

All residents were able to evacuate the building without injury. Red Cross provided two residents with food and clothing; the remaining 16 people received assistance with food.

"All displaced residents were able to stay with friends or relatives," said Red Cross spokesperson Carmel Johnson, "so assistance with lodging was not needed."

UPDATE: Portland Fire and Rescue is now reporting that the cause of this apartment fire "has been determined to be smokers carelessness." 

Structural damage is estimated at about $380,000, with about $30,000 estimated for the loss of property inside.

"Please remember to use the correct receptacles when extinguishing cigarettes," reminds the Portland Fire and Rescue statement.