Portland Fires: When Careless Smokers Just Toss Cigarettes, Buildings Burn

All it took was a careless smoker to toss a cigarette on to the deck of an apartment without putting it out properly. Now eight people are looking for somewhere to stay.

If that wasn't bad enough, less than 12 hours later - there was a second two-alarm fire, This one, at 1430 Southeast Hawthorne Avenue, caused smoke and water damage through much of the building.

It was also caused by a careless smoker who couldn't be bothered to properly put out a cigarette. Portland Fire says it was "discarded" during a rooftop fire.

The first fire was called in at 6:43 Saturday morning from 5011 Southwest Beaverton Hillsdale Highway. It was quickly elevated to a second alarm.

Crews from Portland Fire & Rescue immediately started fighting the fire, which was burning in the rear portion of one apartment as well in an attic hared by two other apartments.

All three of those apartments are currently uninhabitable. Seven adults and one teenager have been displaced. The American Red Cross Cascades Region is assisting them.

Investigators determined it was the improperly disposed of cigarette that caused the fire.

There were no reported injuries.

The second second-alarm fire was called at 5:40 p.m.. It immediately went to a second alarm because of the size of the building and the amount of smoke and visible fire.

While the fire was contained to the roof and the third floor of the three-story building, large portions of the building were damaged by smoke and water.

Photos courtesy Portland Fire & Rescue