Portland Street Response spots fire, calls 911, put on hold

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Portland Street Response team spotted smoke coming from the roof of a home in Southeast Portland Tuesday morning. They called 911 to report the fire — but were put on hold.

The Street Response team then raced to the nearest fire station to alert firefighters, who then rushed to the scene in the 5400 block of SE 97th between Harold and Steele. With winds blowing and the homes close together, fire crews told KOIN 6 News this could have been much worse if they hadn't arrived quickly.

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At this time, 911 is overwhelmed with calls. Portland Fire & Rescue officials are asking the public not to call 911 just because someone is setting off fireworks (despite the city-wide ban.) They fear true emergencies could end up with a delayed response to a crime, a medical situation or a fire.

"Reaching out to the emergency communications with true emergencies. If you see fire, someone has been injured, gravely injured, needs medical assistance — please call 911," PFR Lt. Rick Graves said. "But if you see somebody running a stop sign, utilizing fireworks, that's no use of our emergency system at this time."

And with the hot and dry conditions ripe for fires, officials urge residents not to call 911 unless it's a life threatening emergency.

The cause of the fire at the double-wide manufactured home is under investigation. KOIN 6 News learned the home was just sold on Monday. No one was inside the home when the fire began in the attic.