Fire destroys construction site

PORTLAND – An early morning fire gutted a five-story apartment building under construction and heavily damaged two homes in a northeast Portland neighborhood Thursday, but no one was injured.

The site was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at about 4:15 a.m. Police helped evacuate about a dozen homes that were threatened, and power was shut off in a four-block area.

“Protecting nearby residences and evacuating residents was a huge focus originally,” Portland Fire and Rescue Lt. Rich Chatman said.

Every available firefighter and piece of equipment responded – seven ladder trucks, more than two dozen engines and more than 120 firefighters.

The apartment building eventually collapsed and nearly fell on a fire engine, but the crew was able to move the truck, Chatman said.

The building had been framed, but Chatman didn’t know if electricity had been turned on in it.