The Sundial Apartments sustained heavy smoke and fire damage in the stairwell and in units on the third floor
Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue firefighters rescued four people, including an infant, from a burning apartment complex this morning in Wilsonville. A resident called 911 at 9:37 a.m. from the Sundial Apartments at 7925 SW Vlahos Drive reporting that they were trapped inside their apartment. When the first fire crew from TVF&R’s Wilsonville Station 52 arrived on scene, they saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the three story apartment complex’s west side.
“When we turned the corner, we could see residents on the balcony calling for help,” said TVF&R Lieutenant Doug Napoli, “we knew that we had to get to them quickly.” A responding Battalion Chief called for a second alarm response to the fire, an action that brought more resources to the scene.
Lt. Doug Napoli speaks with reporters outside the Sundial Apartments
The four person engine crew from Station 52 immediately went into rescue mode, raising ladders to the people on two separate balconies. “A man on one of the balconies yelled at us to take his child first,” said firefighter and paramedic Jason Hachmuth. Firefighters rescued an infant child, a six year old boy and two adults from the burning building’s third floor. “Having four people on the first responding engine really helped too,” Hachmuth said.
“As a father, a situation like this really gets my attention,” said Lt. Napoli, “I’m proud of my crew for doing such a great job. We’re glad we could get everyone out OK.”
Additional arriving crews began attacking the fire and were able to limit the damage. Four units on the building’s third floor sustained heavy damage from fire, smoke and water. Firefighters declared the fire under control sixteen minutes after arriving on scene.
42 firefighters and support personnel responded to the fire. No-one was injured.
There has been an ongoing investigation into a series of recent smaller fires at the Sundial Apartments. The cause of today’s fire is under investigation. TVF&R investigators are processing the scene and interviewing witnesses.
TVF&R firefighter Genaro Esparza said, “this is something we’ll all remember for a long time.”
