Structure fire with lithium battery involvement in Portland, Portland OR


An active structure fire occurred near NE Failing St in Portland involving lithium batteries from e-bikes inside. There was arcing in power lines at the site. Firefighters conducted search, ventilation, and suppression operations while managing hazardous conditions.
Audio|Source: Portland Area Fire and Rescue
07:4
Transcript:
00:00
St. 26 arriving behind 24's.
00:02
Inj 26, I'm gonna, you're gonna have RIT[3].
00:04
RIT[3].
00:05
All companies from command, be advised, we do have involvement in the power lines, we do have arcing on the alpha side of the building.
00:11
Let's focus our efforts on the Charlie side.
00:13
Bravo 414, a party 6 alpha, 6 person, near NE Failing St, respond on opt 1.
00:19
For Bravo 414, a party 6 alpha 6 person, near NE Failing St, respond ops 1 at 2219.
00:27
Yeah, not as much fire on the Charlie side, but it is throughout the house.
00:31
We just checked a room on the Bravo side.
00:36
Exited, now we're entering back on the Charlie side.
00:39
Okay, command copy.
00:40
You want to arrive over here.
00:41
Command[2], safety.
00:42
Okay, copy, safety.
00:43
Yes, veteran, command.
00:44
Let's assert the investigator.
00:45
Copy your phone, Ralph.
00:46
Command[2] from engine 17, a bystander here said that e-bike battery, lithium battery blew up, and then he built e-bikes in there.
00:55
So it's probably full of lithium batteries, FYI.
00:58
Okay, command copy lithium batteries.
01:00
Boxes at near North Michigan Avenue respond on Ops 1.
01:04
Engine 13 requested for a transient who is building up a fire with cardboard boxes.
01:09
Near North Michigan Avenue.
01:11
Respond on Ops 1 at 2221.
01:12
I'll evaluate ventilation here in a minute.
01:14
Truck 13, copy.
01:16
617. Provo 40616, 2221.
01:18
And all companies from Command[2], be advised.
01:20
We do have safety concerns on the Alpha side of the building.
01:23
Use caution when operating on the Alpha side due to the power lines overhead.
01:26
Command[2] Engine 14.
01:27
Command[2], go ahead.
01:28
We're making good progress on the fire, getting good knocks down there.
01:31
We're not going to knock down the fire.
01:34
Command[2]Copy, making good progress and knocking down the fire.
01:36
Squad one arrives.
01:37
Do you make a copy. Squad one, go ahead, just bring your manpower up.
01:40
We'll use you for additional support.
01:41
Squad one, copy.
01:42
And command from truck gate, go primary on the Delta and Charlie side is complete.
01:49
We're moving to the opposite side.
01:50
Update, Span Copy.
01:52
Trap 13 from Command[2], let's evaluate a ventilation plan.
01:55
In copy, what test the ventilation needs?
01:57
I-375 from command.
01:58
Just heads up.
01:59
We do have the homeowner here.
02:00
We have a couple RAT medics that are getting contact information from him.
02:04
He's going to be right here by the command post on the Alpha Alpha Corner.
02:07
Copy. We have a fire attack you.
02:08
Command[2], go ahead.
02:09
You're looking a lot better and how are you looking from the XQ?
02:12
Command[2], copy. How is it looking from the outside?
02:14
We do have good smoke change on the exterior of the building, but we still have quite a bit of smoke coming out of the building itself.
02:21
Copy, thank you. The end of the NOSL off the engine 17.
02:23
Copy.
02:24
Command[2] from dispatch 10 minutes.
02:25
Okay, copy 10 minutes.
02:27
Yeah, come here from safety.
02:28
I think it's in the attic.
02:29
And we got some big popping going off.
02:31
I don't know if that's ammo going off inside.
02:33
So it could just be aware if you're interior,
02:35
you might have some ammo in there.
02:36
Command[2]Copy, and we do have reports of batteries, insights, so it may be the ongoing battery fires.
02:42
Also, be advised that Alpha Bravo corner, we did have quite a bit of parking from the power line.
02:46
Command[2], truck, AB, we need to get the line to this Alpha Delta Delta side of the structure.
02:52
We got pretty heavy fire picking back up in the room.
02:54
Command[2] copy, I've got a line exterior right now, we'll work to get that around to the Alpha Delta corner.
02:59
Engine 24 from command, did you copy that?
03:01
Medic[1] 1341 copy stage 2227.
03:03
Command[2] Copy.
03:04
And command from truck gate,
03:06
primary on the entire building complete.
03:09
Command[2] copy, primary search complete.
03:11
And command fire attack smoke conditions, there's moving on the interior.
03:16
We need lighting and then eventually ventilation.
03:19
Command[2]ant copy, Trach 13, can you take care of lighting and support ventilation needs?
03:24
Truck 15, copy.
03:25
Right now we're on the roof for testing ventilation.
03:27
Squad 1 can help with that lighting.
03:30
May I copy.
03:31
Squad 1 has lighting.
03:32
Is that truck 13 on the wheel?
Police codes explained
The following codes appeared in the transcript and are explained below:
[1]
Medic: Medical unit
[2]
Command: Incident commander
[3]
RIT: Rapid Intervention Team (firefighter safety)
Disclaimer:
This was transcribed by AI and may contain errors. Please verify the information independently.
Location mentioned:
Near NE Failing St, Portland, OR 97213
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