It was an unnerving Sunday in Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood as fire crews rushed to an exterior blaze near the 9400 block of N Polk Avenue that was close enough to threaten nearby homes. Engine 22 was first in, with firefighters knocking down flames that officials said were putting two houses at risk, while Truck 22 rolled in to check the adjacent dwelling as crews zeroed in on containment.
According to Portland Fire & Rescue, “Engine 22 arrived to an exterior fire threatening a home,” and crews quickly found themselves battling a blaze that was endangering two houses. The bureau added that Truck 22 was investigating the second home as the operation continued. The social media update, posted Sunday while firefighters were still on scene, did not list any injuries, evacuations, or a possible cause.
Units and neighborhood response
Both Engine 22 and Truck 22 operate out of Station 22 in St. Johns, according to the bureau’s station map on Portland.gov. Station 22 is responsible for parts of north Portland and was the closest company to this stretch of N Polk Avenue, which helps explain how quickly firefighters got to the scene. That kind of proximity is exactly what the bureau’s neighborhood-based deployment model is designed to deliver.
What officials have said so far
Beyond the brief social update, Portland Fire & Rescue had not released additional official information at the time of publication. The initial post simply noted that crews were actively extinguishing the fire and checking adjacent properties, with no mention of injuries, evacuations, or a suspected cause. We will update this story as the bureau releases more details.
Portland's recent fire activity
This incident comes as Portland Fire & Rescue continues to juggle a steady stream of residential calls, including a higher-profile response to a second-alarm house fire in Belmont earlier this week. Taken together, these fires highlight the bureau’s ongoing workload and serve as a reminder of the value of working smoke alarms and clear evacuation plans when things heat up unexpectedly.
