BEAVERTON, Ore. — Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) crews responded to a fire at the Westview Terrace apartment complex in the West Slope and Raleigh Hills area between Beaverton and Portland Monday afternoon. Multiple families have been displaced, while 10 sought medical treatment at a hospital, according to TVF&R on Tuesday.
The agency tweeted just after 2 p.m. Monday that crews were on their way to the 8800 block of Southwest Cashmur Lane, and asked residents to avoid the area. Dispatch records show TVF&R also requested mutual aid from nearby fire agencies.
The tweet didn't specify the exact address of the fire, but a large plume of smoke could be seen rising from one of the buildings in the Westview Terrace apartment complex at around 2:30 p.m., and fire crews could be seen laying down hoses in the parking lot. Flames were also visible on a section of the building's roof.
At around 3 p.m., a fire department public information officer at the scene said four people had been injured, including two who were seriously injured and had been taken to a hospital. On Tuesday, TVF&R updated, saying that seven patients were transported by TVF&R to the hospital, as well as three others who went to a local hospital on their own.
The fire had damaged four or five apartment units in one of the complex's main buildings, and the fire official said Monday that the whole building was evacuated.
A resident of the apartment building told KGW that the fire began in the unit below her, and she had to evacuate in a hurry.
"I open the door and I can see the flames and stuff," Nancy Jones said, "and just walked out here thinking, 'Oh my god, my cats, my phone, my computer.'"
Jones said that she found out her cats were okay, and she was able to get some of her things from her apartment once firefighters had knocked down the flames.
TVF&R said Tuesday that no pets or people were found inside the units.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. A TVF&R investigator has determined the fire originated in a lower unit and spread from there, according to the agency.
The American Red Cross is helping those displaced by the fire.
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