PORTLAND -- Businesses near Southeast 49th Avenue and Division Street have been working very hard recently to build up their community. Sunday morning a fire worked to tear it down.
Jill Andrew, owner of the Modern Hippie Boutique, lost her business and her home right above her eclectic clothing store.
"I was sitting there eating breakfast with my cat and the flames just started coming up from the back and I said my gosh we gotta go."
Andrew lost her black calico cat as she escaped the fire and doesn't know if he's alive or dead.
Fire crews were able to stop the fire from spreading to other colorful businesses here, but it took a very large two-alarm response. The cause remains under investigation.
"We had some very aggressive crews who got in there and got water between the two buildings," said Lt. Rich Tyler with Portland Fire and Rescue.
The building's value was estimated at $160,000, Tyler said. Damage to the structure is about $130,000 and about $50,000 to the contents.
Dr. Jason Zabell runs a natural health clinic next door and gave Andrew a big hug when he saw she made it out alive.
"I"m just happy she's okay, and we're all looking for her cat," said Zabell.
