Eagle Crest Apartment fire displaces 11
Tuesday night's apartment fire displaced 11 residents, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue said in a press release issued Wednesday.
The department said crews were dispatched at 8:49 p.m. Tuesday to a reported fire at the Eagle Crest Apartments in Forest Grove located on the city's border with Cornelius at 4300 Pacific Avenue.
Chas Hundley
"Several callers reported that the back of the apartments were on fire," FGF&R said.
The first crews arrived minutes later to find four of the building's eight units engulfed in flame "from the shared entryway as well as the rear deck portion of the building."
The size of the fire prompted a 2nd alarm to bring in additional crews, who came from several neighboring fire agencies in Gaston, Banks, Hillsboro and beyond.
"It took firefighters 42 minutes to fully extinguish the fire and deem the incident under control," FGF&R said.
Firefighters kept the fire from spreading to the four other units, though five residents required assistance after the fire after those units lost electricity.
All residents safely evacuated, with one resident evaluated on-scene for smoke inhalation. The 11 displaced residents who lived in the damaged apartments received Red Cross assistance
"The cause of the fire is under investigation, but initial findings are that the fire likely started on the back deck of one of the units," FGF&R said.
A spokesperson for the Forest Grove Police Department told News in the Grove there was no indication that the fire was caused by arson.
Eastbound Pacific Avenue was closed for about 90 minutes due to emergency vehicles on the road, with Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies directing traffic.
"Forest Grove Fire & Rescue wants to remind everyone to know at least two ways out of your home. If a doorway becomes blocked by fire, you will need to find a second way to safely evacuate. This might be a different doorway or even a window. If you live upstairs, think about investing in a fire escape ladder to deploy out of a window," FGF&R said.
Also on scene were Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Cornelius Fire Department, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Gaston Fire District, Banks Fire District, Forest Grove Police Department, Washington County Sheriff, AMR, Forest Grove Public Works and Forest Grove Light & Power. Numerous police vehicles, including a drone, were on scene, with seven fire engines, two trucks, two brush units, five chiefs, and 50 fire personnel responding.
