The Portland Police Bureau and the Portland Fire & Rescue (PPB-PFR) Fire Investigations Unit have apprehended a man in connection with a four-alarm fire at an apartment complex in the Hazelwood neighborhood that resulted in two individuals being hospitalized on Friday morning. Shaun Szwarz, 40, a resident of the complex, was arrested and is facing serious charges, including six counts of first-degree arson, six counts of first-degree criminal mischief, and six counts of reckless endangerment. Szwarz was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on Friday evening, although a date for his initial court appearance has not yet been established.
The fire broke out at approximately 5:53 a.m. on East Burnside Street near Northeast 104th Avenue, engulfing the three-story complex when emergency responders arrived. Over 80 firefighters from the Portland Fire & Rescue, along with personnel from the Gresham Fire Department, quickly responded to the emergency call. Eyewitness reports indicated that “at least four” residents jumped from windows in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.
Two unidentified victims sustained severe injuries in the blaze, including second- and third-degree burns, broken vertebrae, a broken ankle, and inhalation injuries, according to a press release from PF&R. Fire crews managed to rescue a total of eight individuals, along with four dogs and one cat from the apartment building.
As a result of the fire, officials estimate that at least 15 residents will be displaced, with the potential for that number to rise to 31 based on the ongoing assessment of the building’s damage. The apartment complex landlord reported that six out of the 19 units were completely destroyed.
Graves, a spokesperson for the fire department, noted that multiple residents were forced to jump from the three-story building to evade the flames, with one individual hospitalized due to possible fractures and burn injuries. The full extent of injuries remains unclear. The fire caused extensive damage to at least six out of the building’s twelve apartments and compromised the wooden staircases that connected each floor, requiring fire crews to deploy ladders to access the upper levels safely.
The collaborative efforts of around 80 personnel from Portland Fire & Rescue, Portland police, and other response teams were crucial in managing the scene, which involved shutting down East Burnside Street. The PPB-PFR Fire Investigation Unit expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the Oregon State Police Accelerant Detection K9 Team in their investigation of the incident.
