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Fire displaces Hillsboro family of 6

07:33 AM PDT on Tuesday, June 23, 2009

By ERIC ADAMS, Kgw.com Staff

HILLSBORO, Ore. -- A family of six was displaced from their Hillsboro home Tuesday morning by fire.

The fire was reported to 9-1-1 dispatchers at 2:47 a.m. at 1943 Jean Lane.

Thomas Rojas, 46, and his 24-year-old son, Thomas Jr., awoke to find the fire. They were able to get everyone else out of the house, including two young children, a 16-year-old and the children’s mother, Diana Rojas, 22.

Fire was found in the home’s master bathroom and Rojas Jr. attempted to fight it with a water hose through the window, managing to keep it “in check” until firefighters arrived, according to Hillsboro Fire Department.

Firefighters found a one-alarm fire with “moderate smoke” about 2 feet from the ceiling. There was no working smoke alarm.

The most likely cause was a faulty exhaust fan in the master bathroom, with damage in the master bedroom as well. The fire caused at least $40,000 in damage, investigators said.

The Rojas family will be staying with relatives while their home undergoes repair, according to investigators.

Fire department officials reminded families of the importance of smoke alarms.

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