PF&R Responds To Multiple Downed Electrical Lines (Photo)
- 11/28/25
PF&R responds to multiple downed electrical lines
At 5:06 AM, Portland Fire Engine 14 was dispatched to an arcing electrical wire call near the intersection of NE 22nd and NE Bryant in the Concordia Neighborhood. The crew arrived to have a downed wire that had ignited the street side vegetation and went to work addressing this emergency by extinguishing the small fires present and placing safety tape up to prevent any resident from unknowingly approaching the potentially dangerous situation.
While addressing this location, the dispatch center alerted the crew of another downed line located approximately 8 blocks away near the intersection of NE 17th and NE Buffalo. The command officer requested Truck 8 to respond to the initial incident and relocated to the new emergency. Engine 14 found a large tree had fallen due to the saturated soils and had dropped a high-powered elevated power line along with a few houses service drop lines. The high-powered line was bouncing actively on the ground and creating explosive electrical charges where the wire contacted the ground as the power was flowing. This wire was adjacent to a vehicle that was ignited because of the fire activity at the end of the downed line. This active bouncing of the electrical wire prevented a safe approach by firefighters to address the vehicle fire that was not in any danger of spreading as the parking location did not have any exposure concerns.
The command officer directed the crew to focus on establishing a safety perimeter with caution tape at this location and to extend a hose line as close as possible to address any possible exposure from the active vehicle fire. The command officer then contacted the Pacific Power (PPL) who serves this area and requested the power be dropped immediately in this grid as it was unknown if any other lines in the area were severed. This led to a large grid in this area be completely without power for the safety of responders and curious residents out and about investigating the scene for themselves. Downed power lines pose significant danger to anyone and unknowingly encountering an active downed powerline can have grave consequences.
PPL service technicians arrived at both locations and are addressing all known damaged power lines. Service will be restored to the area when deemed safe. Portland Fire & Rescue wants to remind you to treat any downed elevated electrical line as high-risk danger and stay at least 50’ away and call professionals to address the situation. Any downed power line can be active with electricity and be hazardous.
PF&R would like to thank the dispatchers at BOEC for their assistance in this incident along with the professionals at PPL for their assistance in dropping the power in the grid for the safety of the responders along with the residents in the area.
TREAT ALL DOWNED LINES AS DANGEROUS – STAY AWAY AND CALL 911.
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PF&R Responds To Multiple Downed Electrical Lines (Photo)
- 11/28/25
PF&R responds to multiple downed electrical lines
At 5:06 AM, Portland Fire Engine 14 was dispatched to an arcing electrical wire call near the intersection of NE 22nd and NE Bryant in the Concordia Neighborhood. The crew arrived to have a downed wire that had ignited the street side vegetation and went to work addressing this emergency by extinguishing the small fires present and placing safety tape up to prevent any resident from unknowingly approaching the potentially dangerous situation.
While addressing this location, the dispatch center alerted the crew of another downed line located approximately 8 blocks away near the intersection of NE 17th and NE Buffalo. The command officer requested Truck 8 to respond to the initial incident and relocated to the new emergency. Engine 14 found a large tree had fallen due to the saturated soils and had dropped a high-powered elevated power line along with a few houses service drop lines. The high-powered line was bouncing actively on the ground and creating explosive electrical charges where the wire contacted the ground as the power was flowing. This wire was adjacent to a vehicle that was ignited because of the fire activity at the end of the downed line. This active bouncing of the electrical wire prevented a safe approach by firefighters to address the vehicle fire that was not in any danger of spreading as the parking location did not have any exposure concerns.
The command officer directed the crew to focus on establishing a safety perimeter with caution tape at this location and to extend a hose line as close as possible to address any possible exposure from the active vehicle fire. The command officer then contacted the Pacific Power (PPL) who serves this area and requested the power be dropped immediately in this grid as it was unknown if any other lines in the area were severed. This led to a large grid in this area be completely without power for the safety of responders and curious residents out and about investigating the scene for themselves. Downed power lines pose significant danger to anyone and unknowingly encountering an active downed powerline can have grave consequences.
PPL service technicians arrived at both locations and are addressing all known damaged power lines. Service will be restored to the area when deemed safe. Portland Fire & Rescue wants to remind you to treat any downed elevated electrical line as high-risk danger and stay at least 50’ away and call professionals to address the situation. Any downed power line can be active with electricity and be hazardous.
PF&R would like to thank the dispatchers at BOEC for their assistance in this incident along with the professionals at PPL for their assistance in dropping the power in the grid for the safety of the responders along with the residents in the area.
TREAT ALL DOWNED LINES AS DANGEROUS – STAY AWAY AND CALL 911.
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Early Morning Two Alarm Fire In SW Portland (Photo)
- 11/22/25
At 7:01am Portland Fire and Rescue crews were dispatched to reports of a fire on the main floor of a two story town home at 5527 SW Multnomah Blvd. While en route dispatch notified that there were 2 individuals stuck on a rear balcony without a way to get down. The first arriving Engine company took command and noted heavy smoke and fire and immediately went to work trying to rescue the trapped occupants. While this crew was attempting a search to locate victims, the second arriving Engine company connected to a hydrant and laid in their hose lines for fire attack. The first arriving Truck company was given the assignment to help with searching for victims. While crews were searching, the two victims were able to self extricate from the unit. One jumped from a second story balcony on the front side of the unit, and another from a rear balcony.
At this point a second alarm was called. With multiple victims and crews still working on a primary search of the unit, and fire attack working to control the fire, more resources were needed on scene.
Fire attack worked quickly to control and extinguish the fire preventing any extension into the neighboring homes. The fire unit was a middle unit of 3 townhomes within the complex.
The fire was extinguished and three victims were transported to the hospital with smoke inhalation injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
During the debrief of the incident, a head on collision occurred near SW 55th Avenue and SW Barbur Blvd. Initial reports were that were was one occupant pined in a vehicle. Several crews on scene of the fire were able to leave and quickly make it over to the accident to work and extricating the patient. That patient was transported to a hospital with injuries.
Structure Fire Response
PFR Units: 16
TVFR Units: 4
Fire Ops Personnel: 51
Injuries: 3
Cause: Under Investigation
Early Morning Two Alarm Fire In SW Portland (Photo)
- 11/22/25
At 7:01am Portland Fire and Rescue crews were dispatched to reports of a fire on the main floor of a two story town home at 5527 SW Multnomah Blvd. While en route dispatch notified that there were 2 individuals stuck on a rear balcony without a way to get down. The first arriving Engine company took command and noted heavy smoke and fire and immediately went to work trying to rescue the trapped occupants. While this crew was attempting a search to locate victims, the second arriving Engine company connected to a hydrant and laid in their hose lines for fire attack. The first arriving Truck company was given the assignment to help with searching for victims. While crews were searching, the two victims were able to self extricate from the unit. One jumped from a second story balcony on the front side of the unit, and another from a rear balcony.
At this point a second alarm was called. With multiple victims and crews still working on a primary search of the unit, and fire attack working to control the fire, more resources were needed on scene.
Fire attack worked quickly to control and extinguish the fire preventing any extension into the neighboring homes. The fire unit was a middle unit of 3 townhomes within the complex.
The fire was extinguished and three victims were transported to the hospital with smoke inhalation injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
During the debrief of the incident, a head on collision occurred near SW 55th Avenue and SW Barbur Blvd. Initial reports were that were was one occupant pined in a vehicle. Several crews on scene of the fire were able to leave and quickly make it over to the accident to work and extricating the patient. That patient was transported to a hospital with injuries.
Structure Fire Response
PFR Units: 16
TVFR Units: 4
Fire Ops Personnel: 51
Injuries: 3
Cause: Under Investigation