Portland Fire & Rescue crews were called to an apartment fire in the 600 block of NE Halsey Street at 11:16 pm.
When fire crews arrived at the duplex at 11:18 pm, they found fire burning on two sides of the 2-story building and on multiple floors. Firefighters immediately began extinguishing the fire while simultaneously searching for the reported trapped resident inside both apartments. Fire crews discovered that the back stairwell had completely burned through and had to us ladders to get onto the upper floors. It was also difficult for the firefighters to move through one apartment due to the excessive clutter throughout the apartment. While fire crews were working on extinguishing the large fire and searching the building, firefighters discovered that the resident had safely gotten out of the building and was uninjured. The fire was brought under control around 12:13 am.
While searching the duplex the night of July 21st, firefighters found a deceased individual inside one of the apartments. PF&R Arson Investigators determined that the death of the individual was not caused by last nights fire. The body was turned over to Portland Police Bureau and the Medical Examiner.
PF&R Arson Investigators determined that there was only one resident in the duplex at the time of the fire. That resident was already deceased prior to the fire last night. The reported resident that supposedly got out of the duplex at the time of the fire, turned out to be a neighbor who did not live in the duplex and was not in the duplex last night.
PF&R Arson Investigators are asking for the community’s help. Anyone with information who may have witnessed this fire prior to Portland Fire & Rescue arriving is asked to call 503-823-FIRE. Officials would especially like to talk to the individuals pictured in the attached picture, who authorities believe may have useful information related to this fire.
(Photo Credit: Dennis Weis, PF&R Photographer)
