Fire crews battle two house fires Thursday morning
One person was injured as Portland firefighters battled two house fires early Thursday.
The name and condition of the victim was not immediately released.
The victim was transported to an area hospital after crews were dispatched to a residential fire at 4532 NE Mallory Ave. at 1:19 a.m. When they arrived, firefighters found a one and a half story home filled with smoke.
According to Portland Fire & Rescue, when they tried to stretch hose lines through house, the crews encountered "extreme clutter" conditions making progress to the fire difficult.
Three residents were inside the home when the fire dispatch call came in. All were able to make it out, and one was transported to Emanuel hospital with fire related injuries.
After the fire was extinguished, fire investigators began collecting information to determine the cause and assess the damage.
A few minutes earlier Thursday, at 1:14 a.m., firefighters responded to a call at 15908 S.E. Alder St. When crews arrived, they found a one and a half story residence fully involved in fire and began an exterior attack of the fire with hose lines due to the size of fire and intensity of the heat.
According to Portland Fire & Rescue, crews had some complicating issues with unusually high winds forcing air into the structure and increasing the rapid spread of fire throughout the home. Once firefighters were able to reduce the size of the fire, they were able to send crews inside the house to search for victims and eventually completely extinguish the fire. Shortly before the fire call, Portland police responded to a nearby disturbance call. A fire investigator has been sent to the scene to find a possible cause and investigate it's connection, if any, with the the police call.