Five People Escape Hillsboro Warehouse Fire, Roof Collapse Thursday

Five Hillsboro people escaped injury Thursday before a fire caused the roof to collapse on the warehouse where they were sleeping.

Emergency responders were called around 6:30 a.m. to 560 SE 4th Ave. after alarms activated within the building, according to a Hillsboro Fire and Rescue news release.

"When they arrived, they found the three adult males and two adult females had escaped unharmed," the release said. "They were wet from dealing with flooding caused by broken fire sprinkler pipes."

Hillsboro police officers brought the group to their headquarters to warm up and await aid from the American Red Cross.

"At first, responders thought the five were associated with the Bodega El Campesino produce distribution company which occupied the majority of the 8,000-square-foot building," the release said. "Upon further investigation, it was learned their unnamed clothing alteration business occupied only a small office in the corner of the building. The occupancy was not permitted as a residence."

The incident commander cordoned off the area Thursday and requested help from a local utility company while Portland General cut electricity to eliminate any spark hazard. Northwest Natural Gas crews shut off the gas leaking from damaged gas heaters and Hillsboro Water suspended water service to the buildings. The damaged fire sprinklers yielded significant flooding, the release said.

"Hillsboro Building Department engineers assessed the integrity of the building and determined the east wall was in danger of collapse," it said. "The roof apparently failed and collapsed from the west side creating a visible bowing of the east wall."

Damage was pegged at around $250,000.

Meanwhile, an American Red Cross crew stepped in to support the affected group.

"The Red Cross provided resources to help address the immediate basic needs of those affected such as temporary housing, food, clothing, comfort kits with toiletry items, information about recovery services, and health and mental health services," the release said, noting that they aided five people and two pets.

The Red Cross in Oregon and Southwest Washington helps an average of three families affected by disasters every day. Additional information about the fire and damage was not immediately available Thursday evening.