Discarded cigarettes caused a house fire that resulted in $130,000 in damage to a home and its contents in Beaverton this afternoon. Someone called 9-1-1 at 3:50 p.m. reporting smoke and flames near the roof of a home Beaverton. Firefighters from TVF&R’s Station 53 arrived just three minutes after being dispatched to the fire to find heavy smoke coming from the back of the home.
Flames shoot from a hole cut in the roof at the rear of the house
Firefighters determined that the fire had spread into the home’s attic and began attacking the flames. As more fire companies arrived at the home, firefighters made entry and were able to confirm that no-one was inside. They also cut holes in the home’s roof to allow heat and flames to escape from the attic, which makes it safer for firefighters to fight the fire.
The fire was especially difficult to extinguish because the attic was heavily loaded with combustibles.
A TVF&R investigator was able to determine that a resident of the home dumped an ashtray into a trash can behind the home about an hour before the fire was reported. Cigarettes from the ashtray caused the trash can, which was located beneath the eaves of the home, to ignite. The flames quickly spread from the trash can, up the side of the home and into the attic.
The American Red Cross is helping the family of six find a place to sleep.
Firefighters use a ladder to conduct truck operations on the home's roof
