Crews Battle House Fire in Portland (AMAZING PHOTOS)

The early morning temperatures were so cold that water froze as it was sprayed on the fire.

Photos courtesy: Dick Harris / Portland Fire and Rescue

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Crews responded to a residential fire at 306 SE 79th Avenue at 5:14 a.m. When fire crews arrived at 5:17 a.m., they found smoke coming from the house. All occupants were out of the house, according to Lt. Allen Oswalt with Portland Fire and Rescue.

"Fire crews immediately began an interior attack on the fire. The fire had gotten into the walls and attic of the home, which made firefighting operations difficult."

Oswalt says the cold weather caused water that was sprayed on the fire to freeze.

"This made walking on sidewalks and the street extremely hazardous. After chasing the fire down in the attic, and having part of the roof collapse, fire crews had the fire under control at 6:22 a.m."

He says investigators determined that the fire was caused by the fireplace. Heat from the fireplace had caused the wood frame members to char over time and then ignite this morning.

"The residents of the home had been using the fireplace as their primary source of heat over the last couple of days. They hung blankets in passageways to keep the heat in the utilized portion of the home."

Photos courtesy: Dick Harris / Portland Fire and Rescue

Oswalt says the working smoke detectors were in the rooms blocked off from the fire. The residents were fortunate to escape the fire without injuries.

This fire was deemed accidental, according to Oswalt.

"The weather has gotten very cold and citizens may be looking for more economical ways of heating their homes. While a wood-burning fireplace maybe a good option, the fireplace, fireplace insert, and/or woodstove must be installed following the manufacturer's recommended installation specifications. The best option is to have a professional install the fireplace."

Oswalt continued, "Fireplaces can produce both high levels of heat and sustained heat for a long period of time that can cause wood frame members to ignite. In the case of the second residential fire, the wood floor was to close to the bottom of the woodstove and caused the wood to first char and then ignite over a long period of time."

He says the other safety concern is that all chimneys need to be cleaned on a regular basis.

"Chimney fires can cause attic fires due to the high level of heat coming off the chimney near wood frame members in the attic."

The fire spokesman concluded by saying, "Portland Fire and Rescue recommends that you have a working and tested smoke detector in all the rooms where you are sleeping. Smoke detectors are your first warning of a fire while you are sleeping."