Just before 10a.m., callers to 9-1-1 reported heavy fire coming from a building in the Lombard Plaza apartment complex located in the 6400 block of SW Lombard Avenue in Beaverton.
Firefighters arrived to find two people outside the building with burn injuries while flames and smoke were billowing from multiple sides and the roof of the building.
Prior to firefighters’ arrival, Lombard Plaza property managers had started evacuations with the help of Beaverton Police officers.
Firefighters aggressively fought the fire from inside and outside the building. A second alarm was called to bring more help to the scene, which included crews from Portland Fire & Rescue and Hillsboro Fire & Rescue.
Fire spread to the shared attic space of the building that had nine units. Two units were destroyed, and additional units sustained smoke and water damage.
Firefighters contained the fire within an hour and spent several hours mopping up hot spots, assisting displaced residents and decontaminating tools and gear.
The American Red Cross is assisting the families displaced by the fire and the Lombard Plaza property managers are working to help permanently relocate residents who will not be able to move back into their homes. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The apartments had working smoke alarms but did not have a fire sprinkler system. When a fire sprinkler system is present, the likelihood of injuries and costly damage is dramatically reduced.