June 16--A 52-year-old woman is in critical condition after a fire broke out in a vacant home that she had been staying in, Portland Fire said.
The woman, whose identity was not released, was found unconscious after crews were called by neighbors to the house at 9808 SE Holgate Blvd., said Portland Fire spokesman Lt. Rich Chatman. They found flames and smoke coming from the home.
The bank-owned house had its windows boarded up and utilities had been turned off, Chatman said. The woman, who is believed to be homeless, had been observed going in and out of the house for the past few months by neighbors, Chatman said.
It took crews about 30 minutes to put out the fire, he said.
Fire investigators determined the fire started on the couch and was accidental, although the source of the fire is unknown. They believe the woman tried to put the flames out herself.
-- Helen Jung
Copyright 2014 - The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.
