Portland Street Response spots fire, calls 911, put on hold

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A Portland Street Response team spotted smoke coming from the roof of a home in Southeast Portland Tuesday morning. They called 911 to report the fire -- but were put on hold.

The Street Response team then raced to the nearest fire station to alert firefighters, who then rushed to the scene in the 5400 block of SE 97th between Harold and Steele. With winds blowing and the homes close together, fire crews told KOIN 6 News this could have been much worse if they hadn't arrived quickly.