PORTLAND, Ore. — Firefighters found a person dead inside a duplex in Northeast Portland following a fire Thursday night.
Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) told KGW that arson investigators determined the person's death was not related to the fire. The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) said the person appears to have died from natural causes before the fire broke out, and the fire never reached them. The medical examiner will investigate the cause of death.
The fire started at 11:16 p.m. at the building near Northeast Halsey Street and Northeast 6th Avenue in the Lloyd District neighborhood. Crews found fire burning on two sides of the two-story building and on multiple floors. The back stairwell was destroyed, so firefighters had to use a ladder to access the upper floors. Crews had a difficult time moving through the apartment due to "excessive clutter," according to a news release from PF&R.
PF&R initially said it received reports that someone was trapped inside and they were able to escape. The agency later said investigators determined that the reported resident turned out to be a neighbor who was not in the duplex.
Crews were able to get the fire under control around 12:31 a.m.
Arson investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed the fire prior to crews arriving to call 503-823-FIRE.
This is a developing story and it may be updated as more information becomes available.
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