Portland Fire and Rescue (PF&R) reported that early Sunday morning, crews responded to seven separate fires in Northeast Portland, particularly around the intersection of Northeast Seventh Avenue and Northeast Fremont Street. The first 911 call was received just before 4 a.m., with firefighters arriving to find a tent trailer engulfed in flames.
As firefighters worked to extinguish the initial blaze, they were alerted to additional fires in the vicinity. This led crews to swiftly move from one fire site to another. In total, the responding teams dealt with a variety of incidents, including a garage fire caused by the burning tent trailer, a utility trailer fire, a dumpster fire in Irving Park, two stumps ablaze in the park, a residential garage door on fire, and a shed also located in Irving Park.
Due to the rapid succession of small fires within a limited geographical area, PF&R called in additional crews to ensure all fires were fully extinguished and to be prepared for any further incidents. The fire investigations unit is currently looking into the fires and is seeking assistance from the public. Anyone with video footage recorded between 3:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. in the affected areas is encouraged to email their recordings to [email protected] or contact PF&R at 503-823-FIRE (3473).
The specific locations of the fires included:
– A shed fire at 733 Northeast Fremont
– Stump fires inside Irving Park at 707 Northeast Fremont Street
– A tent trailer covered with tarps located at 728 Northeast Siskiyou
– A utility trailer fire at 3122 Northeast Eighth Avenue
– A dumpster fire at Irving Park, also at 707 Northeast Fremont Street
– A debris fire at 3636 Northeast Seventh Avenue
Fire investigators from the Portland Fire Investigations Unit, along with police partners, were on the scene. Currently, there is no person of interest identified in connection with these fires. Residents are urged to report any information to the Portland Fire Investigations Unit tip line at 503-823-FIRE (3473).
Terry Foster, a fire inspector with PF&R, emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant for suspicious activities in the neighborhood. “These intentionally set fires often start small but can quickly grow larger. We need to address them early on, as even small fires can have a significant impact on the community. We’ve experienced burned trailers and potential threats to homes, which could endanger those sleeping nearby who might not be aware of the dangers until it’s too late,” Foster noted.
