As they combated a 2-alarm fire in a Southeast Division apartment building, Portland Fire and Rescue faced a harrowing ordeal. According to KATU, the blaze, which erupted just after 9 p.m. in the 10000 block of Southeast Division, was met with determined efforts by firefighters who worked against flames visibly engulfing the three-story structure's rooftop. A video shared on Portland Fire's X page depicted their struggle with the inferno.
Further complicating the firefighters' battle was that, upon their arrival, gas lines to the building had not been cut, causing gas to flow unabated and fuel the fire, as detailed in a report by KPTV. Originally starting at a nearby homeless encampment, the fire spread rapidly to the apartment building, quickly reaching the attic space.
The fire in Southeast Portland caused structural damages and deeply affected the building's residents. One of the displaced tenants, Fardowsa Kassim, suffered a total loss of her home, including her possessions and irreplaceable items like her son's baby pictures. "As soon as I see my son's room, I just kind of broke down. All his memories are in there," Kassim stated, as per KGW. To support those affected, such as Kassim, community members have established a GoFundMe campaign.
Apartment management expressed their concerns, noting the proximity of the fire to their property and the potential for catastrophe. "We've got to do something because that was close," an apartment manager, McKenzie, said, per KGW.
