Firefighters responded to a residential fire that started just after 9:00 p.m. last night in the 22000 block of SW Mountain Road in West Linn. The alert homeowners reported seeing small flames coming from the top of their chimney and immediately called 911. Both adult residents, their two children and their dog quickly evacuated the home and safely waited for crews to arrive.
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue firefighters from Engine 57 arrived within five minutes of dispatch to find flames and smoke at the base of the chimney and smoke coming from the attic vents. As additional firefighters arrived, an aggressive interior and exterior fire attack was initiated to determine if the fire had spread beyond the chimney and into the attic space of the home. As a precaution, the incident commander called a second alarm to bring in extra resources. The fire was controlled within 61 minutes. Approximately 50 firefighters and 13 pieces of firefighting apparatus worked to fight the fire, conduct searches, salvage belongings, overhaul the building and decontaminate tools.
Fire Investigators from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue reported to the scene and are still working to determine the cause of the chimney fire. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue was assisted on scene by Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (911 dispatch), Lake Oswego Fire and Rescue, West Linn Police Department, Portland General Electric, Northwest Natural, and American Medical Response.
(Photos: Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue)
