Crews battle back-to-back SE Portland house fires

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Fire crews battled back-to-back house fires in Southeast Portland overnight Monday, authorities said.

According to Portland Fire & Rescue, crews responded to a fire just after 11 p.m. Monday night where a fire had started in an shed and spread to a house.

By the time crews arrived at the scene, officials said the back of the home was heavily burning and the fire was spreading.

The blaze was put out within 30 minutes authorities said.

As crews responded to the first fire, just 20 blocks away, another house fire was reported in the Richmond neighborhood.

With crews tied up battling the first fire, additional firefighters needed to be called in from further away, which PF&R said slowed their response.

When they got to the second fire scene, crews said they saw smoke pouring out of the second story of the home and quickly worked to make sure everyone was out safely. Officials say they knocked down that fire in 10 minutes.

There were no reported injuries in either fire.