The same Gresham apartment complex has caught fire at least twice in the past five days.
It is located near East Burnside and 181st Avenue.
A building in the complex New Porters caught on fire last Thursday, and then again Monday afternoon.
Thursday’s fire started around 6 p.m. in a second-floor unit before burning into the attic. Seven people were forced out of their homes.
The second fire occurred Monday afternoon and Gresham firefighters said it was a new fire, not a rekindle.
Avis Thomas lives right next door to the units that were on fire.
“It just really scared us really bad,” she said. “That cement wall is what saved us.”
Both fires are under investigation.
“Like, two times within less than five days. I’m like, we need to move before we end up losing everything,” said Brieanna Ortiz.
Neighbors said it was a terrifying experience.
“Can’t sleep. Scared. Scared to go to work. Scared to see where this is going to burn down,” said Phoebe Gray.
Thomas said she was in shock.
“I froze when my son-in-law ran in and said, ‘Mom, get your stuff and get out.’ I couldn’t. I didn’t for the life of me couldn’t move fast enough, you now?” she said. “It was really something scary because I have never been in a fire before.”
One neighbor said they lost some belongings; however, they don’t know what they lost after the second fire because they aren’t able to go back inside yet.
KATU reached out to the management of the apartment complex, and it is waiting to hear back.