Just after 3:30 pm today, a resident living at 2740 SE 70th Avenue in Hillsboro called 911 to report a kitchen fire that was quickly spreading to cabinets above. With smoke alarms sounding in the background of the call, the 911 call taker instructed the resident to safely evacuate their home as fire crews were dispatched.
The on-duty battalion chief was the first to arrive and reported smoke emanating from the attic area of the home. He upgraded the fire to a first alarm to bring additional resources to the scene. The resident informed him that two cats were missing and feared to still being inside the home. Firefighters from Brookwood Station Engine 2 arrived within three minutes and entered the residence to locate and extinguish the fire. Firefighters from Cherry Lane Station Engine 6 arrived shortly after Engine 2 and established a water supply for firefighting by connecting to a fire hydrant at the corner of SE 70th Avenue and SE Johnson Street. For the safety of first responders, Hillsboro Police assisted by closing SE 70th Avenue between SE Johnson and TV Highway.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire in the kitchen area of the home and confirmed that only smoke had penetrated the attic area and that no active fire was found there.
The two adults living in the home were not injured. A family dog was safely evacuated and one of the family cats was, but a second cat remained missing as firefighters helped with the post-fire containment and cleanup. It was suspected that the cat was hiding somewhere in the home and presumably uninjured.
A Hillsboro Fire investigator responded to the incident and reported that the fire was accidental. The cause of the fire was unattended cooking.
A public safety chaplain responded to the scene to provide support and assistance to the residents and their pets who were displaced temporarily because of the fire.
Hillsboro Fire and Rescue reminds community members of these important fire safety tips:
- While cooking, always remain in the kitchen and never leave cooking unattended
- For cooking fires, put a lid on the pot to smother the fire, turn off the power source, and leave it on the stove.
- Never re-enter a home to retrieve pets or belongings.
- Working smoke alarms can save lives.
