PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Several people are displaced, and one apartment nearly burned to the ground after a fire broke out at a southwest Portland apartment complex early Sunday morning.
Just after 2 a.m., neighbors along Southwest Capitol Highway woke up to flames shooting from apartment windows.
Sam Rogers, who witnessed the fire, said she saw residents running from the building.
“It was scary and heartbreaking,” Rogers said. “When we first came out, there were flames shooting up out of the windows here. It was like a flamethrower. It was crazy. It was like 20 feet out.”
Several people are displaced, and one apartment nearly burned to the ground after a fire broke out at a southwest Portland apartment complex early Sunday morning, Dec. 14, 2025.(KPTV)
One apartment burned completely, with damage reaching the unit next door. All three residents are without a home.
Portland Fire and Rescue said their initial investigation indicates the fire started with an object placed close to a space heater. Lt. Chris Schimmer said space heater fires are common during winter months, causing nearly 2,000 fires nationally each season.
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“It’s getting cold outside and folks are starting to pull out their space heaters,” Schimmer said. “The biggest thing is making sure it’s on a flat surface, no combustibles nearby – at least 3 feet away. We’re talking about blankets, we’re talking about pillows, even bedding.”
Schimmer advised people to never plug space heaters into extension cords and to look for models that automatically shut off if they tip over.
The official cause of the fire and estimated damage remain under investigation.
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