PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
Fire damaged a Northeast Portland home Tuesday morning, and investigators said they believe they've identified the cause.
The fire broke out at 5:21 a.m. at a home on NE Flanders Street, firefighters said.
According to investigators, the first crews to arrive at the scene saw that the fire had extended into the attic space and had burned a portion of the roof.
Crews immediately walked through the home to make sure there were no victims inside, and then cut holes into the roof to ventilate hot gasses vertically, investigators said.
After interviewing the occupants, firefighters learned that they had used a weed-burner to kill vegetation around the home Monday.
According to investigators, the process ignited a very small, smoldering fire in surrounding bark mulch, which slowly grew undetected over the next day until it reached a wooden pallet that was next to the home.
Investigators said the wood eventually caught fire, and the flames spread to the exterior of the home.
No injuries were reported,
Investigators said they hope the fire reminds citizens to remain aware of the hazards associated with using open flame processes near structures.
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