Oregon Red Cross Responds to Fatal House Fire

Oregon Red Cross volunteers responded to a house fire on Failing Street in Portland, OR early this morning. They provided humanitarian assistance to at least two people displaced by the fire. All services were provided free of charge and may have included lodging, food, clothing, comfort kits and mental health services.

As reported on OregonLive.com, Portland firefighters arrived at the Failing Street home about 4 a.m. and found people evacuating from the basement and first floor windows, according to Paul Corah, spokesman for Portland Fire & Rescue. Some were woken up by the lights of the fire engine because there were no working smoke alarms in the home, fire investigators said.

On the second floor, it was so hot firefighters' helmet shields were melting and they had to crawl on their stomachs to look for any trapped victims, according to Station 13 Capt. Rob Hutchens. They knew they had to get out, but they gave it one more shot, he said, and that's when they found a man in the hallway.

Firefighters carried the man downstairs to paramedics, who determined that the 39-year-old man had died. His name has not been released, pending notification of his family. An investigation is continuing.

Corah urged people to make sure they have a working smoke alarm in every sleeping area, on every floor of their home. 

Four people were in the house at the time of the fire. Rooms in the home were rented out to individuals, Corah said. The Oregon Red Cross helped at least two displaced adults get shelter and other services.

Blaze sparks at SE Portland apartment complex

Oregon Red Cross volunteers are assisting several SE Portland residents displaced by an apartment fire in the 2000 block of SE 122nd Avenue. Red Cross volunteers are prepared to provide humanitarian assistance, which is provided free of charge, and may include comfort kits, lodging, food, clothing and information about health and mental health services.

As reported by KOIN Local 6, investigators believe the two-alarm fire at a Southeast Portland apartment complex on Saturday night was caused by a careless smoker. The blaze broke out sometime before 7:39 p.m. at the El Moro Apartments, located at 2016 SE 122nd Avenue.

Alisa Cour, spokesperson for Portland Fire and Rescue, says the fire initially started in a one-story unit, but arriving crews discovered that strong east winds had spread it to three others through a common attic space, prompting the second-alarm.

Firefighters cut a hole in the roof of all four one-story units, which had all been safely evacuated prior to their arrival. The fire was brought under control within about 40 minutes.

There were no injuries, but an elderly woman was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents with housing. TriMet also sent a bus to the scene to help residents stay warm.

American Red Cross, Oregon Region - Winter Storm Update

The American Red Cross is working around the clock to provide assistance to families and communities impacted by the recent storms.

Our Emergency Operations Center has been active since Wednesday afternoon. We are currently assessing both ongoing and potential needs, for supplies and/or shelters, in the affected areas. We are continuing to monitor and respond to developing events in flood-prone places this weekend. We currently have over 100 Red Cross volunteers and staff from around the state actively responding, and we have several hundred more volunteers on alert, if needed.

There is new concern in Hood River County, where they have been dealing with icy conditions, power outages and downed trees – we have opened a shelter at WyEast Middle School, 3000 Wy'East Rd.

Four (4) Red Cross shelterswere open overnight: Aumsville; Brookings; Gold Beach; and Mapleton. Red Cross is also providing support for two community shelters: in Allegany; and Salem. We have opened a total of seven shelters during the last 24 hours, which also included Corvallis, Florence and Vernonia.

You can search for current Red Cross Shelter sites online at: http://www.redcross.org/nss/

We are drawing on supplies that were pre-positioned in over 50 locations across the state to conduct these sheltering and relief efforts.

We are prepared to provide distribution of clean-up kits, comfort kits and emergency food supplies as needed. In addition to sleeping accommodations, snacks and meals have been provided to shelter residents as well as mental health and medical supplies and assistance as needed.

In addition, Red Cross volunteers have responded to disasters where families have been displaced (home fires, flooding, trees falling on homes) in Tillamook, Marion and Wasco Counties. We are providing, free of charge, assistance with lodging, food, clothing, comfort kits, and information about Health and Mental Health services.

Red Cross needs blood donations...

Severe weather in the state has disrupted blood donations. If you have an appointment to donate blood, don't forget to come by, or if you would like to sign up to donate, go to: http://www.redcrossblood.org/ or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule an appointment.

Red Cross Safe and Well...

The Oregon Red Cross encourages everyone displaced by weather, and anyone attempting to locate friends and loved ones, to use the Red Cross Safe and Well site at: https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php

You can help people affected by disasters like the recent storms and flooding as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.oregonredcross.org or call (503) 528-5659. Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people.

Click here to make a donation.

Fire Hurts: Red Cross Helps

On Thursday, January 05, 2012 at 8:19pm, Oregon Red Cross volunteer Kenneth Rislow responded with humanitarian assistance to a duplex fire in the 700 block of Erie Avenue, Astoria, OR. On site Red Cross volunteers assisted one adult, one child and a dog by providing, free of charge, assistance with immediate lodging, food, comfort kit, and information about Health and Mental Health services to insure the safety and well-being of those displaced in this fire.

On Friday, January 06, 2012 at 3:08am, volunteers from the Oregon Red Cross also responded with humanitarian assistance to a 2-alarm house fire in the 3300 block of SW Golf Course Road, Cornelius, OR. Red Cross volunteers assisted two adults and three dogs by providing, free of charge, immediate lodging, food, clothing, comfort kits and information about Health and Mental Health service to insure the safety and well-being of those displaced in this fire.

Firefighters determined the blaze was caused from an electrical malfunction near an electrical panel, located in the residence's garage, said Matt Johnston, a Forest Grove Fire & Rescue inspector who serves as a spokesman for the Cornelius Fire Department. Johnston said the initial damage estimate to the home is $30,000.

Johnston also said the home did not have any smoke alarms, so the residents were fortunate to notice the fire. Firefighters encourage residents to have a working alarm on each floor and outside bedrooms.

Every Day, the Oregon Red Cross is There

On Wednesday, December 28, 2011, Red Cross volunteers Ed Rentz, Mac McCawley and Geoff Jutzy responded to a disaster in the 9900 block of N Smith Street, Portland, OR. The fire occurred around midnight, and the family remained in their garage until all entrances were secured by a restoration company. The Red Cross provided assistance with immediate lodging, food, clothing, comfort kits, and information about Health and Mental Health services.

About three hours later, Red Cross volunteers Susan Nash and Judy Drescher responded to a disaster in the 900 block of SE Reynolds Street, Portland, OR. The Red Cross provided assistance with food, clothing, comfort kit, and information about Health and Mental Health services.

The Oregon Red Cross empowers ordinary people to perform extraordinary acts in emergency situations. We train. We mobilize. We connect donors and volunteers to those in urgent need of a helping hand.

Ten times a week, somewhere in Oregon, volunteers help a family who has lost everything in a house fire or other disaster. All disaster services are provided for free and supported solely by donations.

Thanks again to all the wonderful people, our generous donors and our amazing volunteers, who have helped us "be there" for the people of Oregon in 2011. It's not too late for you to join them: http://www.serve.com/redcross/?extlink=pa-us-serve-arc-intranet-201111