Two hospitalized after Southeast Portland house fire, one with leg burns

Portland Fire says two people were taken to a hospital after a house fire early Wednesday in Southeast Portland.

Firefighters were dispatched just before 7 a.m. to the 7600 block of Southeast 65th Avenue. On X, the agency said Engine 11 arrived to heavy fire and black smoke on the back side of the home. Portland Fire also reported that the back porch was burning and a propane tank was venting.

Officials said one woman suffered burns to her legs. At last check, both people who were hospitalized were in critical condition.

The fire also displaced residents. The American Red Cross was requested to assist anyone forced out of the home.

KATU spoke with a 12-year-old boy who lived there and said he was the first to see the flames. He told the station he woke his father, who then alerted the rest of the family before the fire spread farther through the house. The boy said he feared for his mother, who was at work at the time.

Fire investigators are working to determine the cause.

For families dealing with a house fire, the first priorities are medical care, temporary shelter, and preserving photos or records of the damage for insurance. A home fire can also create legal questions if a gas leak, appliance failure, or another property condition played a role.