Lake Oswego firefighters joined a multi-agency response July 30, after a West Linn resident re-entered a burning home to save the family dog. Both the resident and the pet remain unaccounted for.
The second-alarm fire broke out in the 3300 block of Quail Ridge Drive. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue said the homeowners had initially evacuated, but one went back inside for the dog.
Lake Oswego Fire Department, Clackamas Fire District, West Linn Police Department, and American Medical Response all assisted TVF&R at the scene, according to the agency's official Facebook post.
Arriving crews found heavy fire consuming the rear of the large residence, with dense smoke pushing from the roof and flames extending into the attic. TVF&R immediately upgraded the call to a second alarm because of the home's size and the report of a missing occupant.
Firefighters launched an aggressive interior attack while searching for the resident. Conditions deteriorated fast.
TVF&R said the interior search had to be suspended after the structure became increasingly unstable and posed an imminent risk of collapse, according to a news release reported by the Lake Oswego Review. Command shifted to a defensive strategy, with crews attacking the fire from outside to prevent further spread and protect personnel.
It took nearly three hours to bring the blaze under control.
As of Thursday evening, TVF&R said firefighters were conducting a systematic search as conditions allowed, but extensive fire damage and collapse hazards continued to hamper the effort. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The identity of the missing resident has not been released.
Fire safety
In a July 8 post connected to a separate June 25 house fire in Beaverton, TVF&R urged residents to leave immediately when a smoke alarm sounds and never re-enter a burning structure. The agency stressed that having and practicing a home escape plan makes a critical difference.
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