A 64-year-old woman has died following a house fire in Northeast Portland's Piedmont neighborhood, as reported by local fire officials. The incident, which occurred yesterday morning, is believed to have been sparked by a space heater connected to an extension cord. KPTV-KPDX notes the fire was initially reported just before 7 a.m., and upon arrival, firefighters encountered light smoke emanating from beneath the home's porch.
Rick Graves, a spokesperson for Portland Fire & Rescue, told KPTV-KPDX, "Oftentimes in homes that were constructed 100 years ago, there are not a lot of wall outlets," leading residents to use extension cords for space heaters. Found in a position suggesting an attempt to escape, the woman was discovered unresponsive on the second floor in a bed. The severity of the fire was compounded by heavy clutter inside the home, making it difficult for firefighters to search and extract her from the premises, as described by PF&R.
According to a statement obtained by KATU, firefighters quickly extinguished a small fire located in the living room, but not before smoke filled the upper levels of the home. Despite the fire being contained, the absence of working smoke detectors possibly hindered the timely discovery and rescue of the woman.
"Working smoke detectors save lives. Please ensure there is an operational smoke detector on each level of the home and, even better, in each room used for sleeping," Portland Fire & Rescue emphasized, a sentiment echoed in a report by Right Now Oregon. Investigators have warned against the dangerous setup of space heaters connected to extension cords, especially without direct plugging into a grounded wall outlet. After bringing her outside, emergency medical care was provided by both Portland Fire & Rescue and AMR medics before the victim was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Portland Fire & Rescue has reaffirmed safety warnings following the tragic incident, emphasizing the importance of having operational smoke alarms, exercising proper cord safety, and minimizing clutter to facilitate escape during emergencies. They also extended gratitude to the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC) dispatch center and TIPS Northwest volunteers for their support in assisting affected neighbors.
