TIGARD, Ore. — More than a dozen people and several pets are displaced after a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Tigard early Wednesday morning.
Around 12:40 a.m., multiple people called 911 to report seeing flames coming from the roof at Oak Tree Apartments on Southwest 108th Avenue, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) said. Crews saw flames through the third-story roof. Firefighters searched the complex and the neighboring units, and confirmed that everyone inside had evacuated.
Firefighters encountered challenges trying to reach the fire in the attic because of a double layer of drywall in the ceiling, TVF&R said. After about 50 minutes, they were able to get the fire under control, and spent an additional two hours to extinguish hot spots and salvage people's belongings.
PHOTOS: Tigard apartment fire
Fifteen people including two children were displaced, according to TVF&R. The Red Cross is providing them with assistance.
In a statement, the Red Cross Cascades Region said that it has responded to 17 house fires across Oregon and southwest Washington in the past week alone, including five fires at multi-family buildings, providing services to 57 people, 20 children and several pets.
The Red Cross is helping 10 families displaced by the fire at the Oak Tree Apartments, including the two children and seven animals.
"On disasters like these, we help connect people to services, replace lost medications, and in some cases, offer financial assistance," the Red Cross said. "We have not been asked to set up shelters due to these fires, but we are prepared to in the event of a larger, more widespread event."
A fire investigator is determining the cause of the fire.