Photos: 24 Rescued from Fire at OR Senior Facility

At least 24 people living in a residential care facility were rescued from a large overnight fire in Southeast Portland, the Portland Fire & Rescue said Wednesday morning.

The blaze at Hope N Care, 12045 S.E. Pardee St., was reported about 1 a.m., when dispatchers were told the facility’s roof was on fire.

Arriving firefighters entered the building and found some employees helping residents out of the facility as the fire and smoke billowed in from vents and light fixtures above.

More engine crews were called in because many of the residents were stuck in their rooms and could not evacuate. Sixteen 16 people were evacuated before Portland Fire & Rescue command called for a second alarm, raising the fire to a “Mass Causality Incident” code and preparing ambulances for the possibility of multiple victims.

Crews searched the back of the u-shaped building and found eight more people. The blaze was so strong, firefighters were forced to pull back and attack it from the exterior before it was safe to go back inside.

Paramedics and Portland police officers helped move the evacuated residents a safe distance away from the fire. TriMet buses also responded to the fire and helped keep people warm.

By 1:45 a.m., the building’s roof collapsed. The fire was under control by 2:30 a.m.

One of the care facility’s employees was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, but no residents were injured.

“First and foremost, I want to commend the heroism of the two on-site employees who risked their lives starting the initial evacuation of the residents under heavy fire conditions,” said Fire Chief Sara Boone. “When firefighters arrived their number priority was the immediate rescue of every resident within the facility under worsening fire conditions. Because of their tactical decisions and valiant efforts so many lives were saved and turned near tragedy into an incredible success story.”

Portland Fire & Rescue did not say what caused the fire.

Hope N Care Residential Care Facility did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Oregonian/OregonLive.

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