PORTLAND — At 12:25 am Portland Firefighters were called a house at 3551 SE Morrison that was reported to be on fire. Before firefighters arrived they reported a heavy smoke column and a glow in the area. When the Battalion Chief Jim Forquer arrived he alerted fire crews that the fire was in the back of a 1 1/2 story residence. And that the fire had spread to the neighboring house to the east.

A second alarm was called to bring more firefighters to the scene to deal with the two houses burning. Firefighters knocked the main body of the fire down quickly and stopped the fire in the neighbor's house as other firefighters made an interior attack on the fire that had spread to the first and second floor of the original fire building.

Damage to the second home was limited to the siding and a small section of the roof. Damage to 3551 SE Morrison is severe. It appears the fire started on the back porch area of 3551 SE Morrison and because the back yard is secluded and visibility is blocked by large trees the fire burned for some time before it was noticed and reported.

No one was injured even though both houses were occupied at the time of the fire. The Red Cross was called to assist 4 adult males with lodging for the night. The Trauma Intervention Program (TIPS) had volunteers on scene to help the victims cope with the loss.

Fire Investigators are on scene digging through the debris to try to determine the cause. They have no information to release at this time.

Firefighters will be at the scene for several hours to clean up and douse hot spots.

First Alarm 12:25 am
Crews arrived 12:29 am
Second Alarm 12:38 am
Recall 1:02 am

42 firefighters were called to extinguish the fire:
8 Engines
2 Trucks
1 Heavy Rescue
4 Chief Officers
2 Fire Investigators