A two-alarm fire damaged four apartment units on East 9th Street Thursday. Nearby painters helped alert residents, and firefighters rescued two cats.
AT A GLANCE
Incident: Two-alarm apartment fire
Date: October 29, 2026
Location: 800 block of East 9th Street, Medford
Damage: Four apartment units affected
Displaced: Eight residents; Red Cross providing assistance
Injuries: None reported; two cats rescued
Cause: Believed to have started on an exterior balcony; investigation ongoing
Response: Medford Fire, Jackson County Fire District 3, Mercy Flights, and Medford Police
MEDFORD, Ore. — Eight residents were displaced after a two-alarm fire damaged four apartments in Medford Thursday afternoon, October 29. No injuries were reported, and firefighters rescued two cats from the burning building.
Medford Fire Department crews responded to a multifamily apartment complex in the 800 block of East 9th Street shortly before 1:45 p.m., where they encountered two apartment units heavily involved in fire, with flames spreading into the attic.
The incident was upgraded to a second alarm because of the volume of fire and the building's multifamily occupancy. Firefighters brought the blaze under control and continued working at the scene to extinguish remaining hot spots and assess the damage.
Fire Damages Upper Apartment Units: Heavy charring and structural damage are visible along the upper level of a Medford apartment building following an October 29 fire. Eight residents were displaced, and the cause remains under investigation. Photo: Medford Fire Department.
According to an update released Friday morning, October 30, the fire displaced eight residents from four apartment units. The upper apartments sustained significant fire and smoke damage, while the lower units suffered water damage and minor smoke damage.
The American Red Cross is assisting displaced residents with temporary shelter and essential needs.
Firefighters also rescued two cats that survived the incident.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire originated on an exterior balcony before spreading into the attic and other portions of the building. The exact cause has not been determined, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Medford Fire credited painters working nearby with quickly alerting residents to the fire, giving them valuable time to escape the building safely.
Cover Photo / Extensive Damage to Medford Apartments: Charred exterior walls, damaged windows, and debris show the aftermath of a two-alarm fire on October 29, 2026, at an apartment complex on East 9th Street. The fire displaced eight residents from four units. Photo: Medford Fire Department.
The department also acknowledged assistance from Jackson County Fire District 3, Mercy Flights, and Medford Police, which provided traffic control during the emergency response.
The full extent of the property damage has not been released.
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