A CHURCH IN PORTLAND, OREGON, was largely destroyed in a 3-alarm fire Monday night that also threatened a Quality Inn hotel that is physically attached to the church building.

The Oregonian

The fire is believed to have started in or near an auditorium that was located on the 2nd floor.  There were about 6 or 8 people in there at the time, but all got out of the building safely.

The alarm was sounded at 7:15 pm and the first units reported heavy smoke coming from the 2nd floor and roof of the 2-story wood framed building.  A second alarm was sent at 7:24 and 11 minutes later the third alarm was tripped bringing a total of 70 FF’s to the job.

KPTV Ch. 12 has a good raw video taken when the fire was near its peak:

The occupants of the hotel were evacuated as a precaution, but the FD contained the fire to the original structure.  The entire complex is owned by the church.  The damage estimate is placed at $500,000.

The Oregonian has the STORY.

KATU-TV’s helicopter has an aerial view of the fire building after it was out: