Portland Fire Has A Busy Night (Photo) -08/01/25

Portland Fire has a busy night

At just after midnight, Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a possible structure fire in the NE PDX Eliot Neighborhood. The first arriving companies had heavy fire pushing out of the corner of the 5000 sq ft. abanodoned warehouse style building. With the large amount of fire and concerns the fire would extend to neighboring structures a second alarm was called for quite early in the incident.

The crews removed the boards over the window coverings and doors to gain access to the interior while a few trucks were set up for aerial master stream operations. The amount of fire actively pushing out of the windows directed the command officer to have all companies perform a defensive fire tactics and only apply water to the interior from the exterior of the structure with no one directed to enter. Once access the interior of the structure was achieved by softening or removing the plywood coverings and cutting large access points in the garage doors, the fires was easily accessed and extinguished.

Crews accessed the adjacent structure that shared a wall with the fire building with smoke banked down to the floor but no active fire present as this smoke entered through openings in the shared wall. Many fans were placed at one end of the building to push all the smoke out to ensure crews could visually confirm no fire activity in the neighboring structure.

As this fire began to wind down, a roll-over motor vehicle crash into a high voltage security fence was dispatched out in the North Portland Bridgeton Neighborhood in the 900 block of NE Marine Drive. A small sedan rolled into a high voltage security fence. Once responders arrived and were able to locate an emergency shut off switch to the electric security fence, extrication of the single occupant was quickly performed with the occupant sent to Emanual as a trauma system entry for appropriate medical care.

As this vehicle crash incident was closing a residential fire dropped in the SE Lents Neighborhood. A shed like garage structure outbuilding fire was dispatched out with additional information that an older teen who frequented the interior was unaccounted for. Crews arrived to have fire showing from three sides of the building with concerns of fire extending to the neighboring outbuildings and primary home. Crews quickly eliminated all the fire prior to any extension into adjacent buildings and were able to account for the missing teen.

All of the above occured in a span of just over 2 hours. There were no injuries reported in the above fire incidents to occupants or responders and each fire incident is under investigation.

Portland Fire would like to thank all our partners in these incidents that include Portland Police, BOEC and all dispatchers, the power companies and NW Natural along with AMR. Additionally, we would like to thank our mutual aid partners at Clackamas County Fire and Vancouver Fire for initiating responses toward the above incidents.

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David Campbell Fire Boat Last Voyage (Photo) -07/30/25

Monday August 4, 2025
PF&R Fire Station 21 – 5 SE Madison
10 AM
 

Portland Fire & Rescue is excited to invite you to a send-off celebration of the historic David Campbell Fire Boat. The David Campbell was put into service in 1927, operating in Portland’s rivers for nearly 100 years, and was officially retired in 2021. In her 100 years of service, the David Campbell was involved in many significant incidents, always meeting the challenge and providing an incredible working platform for firefighters to address whatever emergency presented itself on our local waterways.
 

There are many generations of firefighters who have had the pleasure of witnessing the David Campbell do exactly what she was designed to do--pull water up from the river in large volumes and extinguish fires. Its most recent opportunity was nearly 10 years ago with a 5^th Alarm Fire at the Red Lion on the Columbia River where crews were stretching hand lines and using the large aerial master streams from the ladder trucks without much success. The David Campbell arrived on scene and turned the corner for us, putting the needed gallonage on the fire to allow us to finish the job from the land side.
 

In the years since the David Campbell’s retirement, members of Portland Fire & Rescue have worked with local nautical historians in hope of finding a publicly accessible home for the vessel, so the history of the David Campbell can live on. After many years of work, the final location was determined to be the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
 

Come watch the final water display and send-off of this historic vessel as she makes her last voyage to drydock storage until the Spring of 2026, when she will be trailered to the museum in Astoria for all to enjoy.

Portland Fire & Rescue Station 15 Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary (Photo) -07/29/25

Saturday August 2, 2025

1920 SW Spring Street

1PM – 5 PM

On August 2, 2025, Portland Fire & Rescue is hosting an open house at Fire Station 15 to celebrate 100 years of service out of the same bungalow style fire station located at 1920 SW Spring Street. Station 15, which serves the SW Hills, has been located at the same address for the last 127 years. The open house will have interactive opportunities for both adults and children, with tours and historical information about the station provided by current and retired members of Portland Fire & Rescue.
 

Located on SW Spring Street between SW 19th and SW Vista Avenue, Station 15 was orignally established in 1908.  The original building was quite grand in nature, almost castle-like in appearance.  It would remain until 1925, when it was replaced by a bungalow style station, one of the Lee Holden designed stations.  These bungalow stations were designed to blend in with the neighborhoods they served, not resembling working fire stations from the exterior. Station 15 remains in service today, largely unchanged from its 1925 design.

Saturday August 2nd also marks the 172nd anniversary of Portland Fire & Rescue beginning service to Portlanders.  It also marks the 153rd anniversary of "Black Saturday," a conflagration that destroyed 22 blocks of the city and prompted the purchase of the Messenger Bell the following year.  After the bell became obsolete, it was stored at Station 15 for many years and has been (and will be again) a feature in the Portland Firefighter Memorial Triangle.  
 

More information on the history of Station 15 and PF&R will be available on August 2^nd during the open house. Come join us in this fun community event!

UPDATE - Portland Fire Responds To 7 Suspicious Fires -07/20/25

Early this morning Portland Fire responded to seven fires around the area of NE 7th Avenue and NE Fremont Street. The initial 911 call came in shortly before 4am and responding crews found a tent trailer on fire. As firefighters worked to extinguish this fire they were notified of additional fires in the area. This trend continued with crews quickly moving from one fire to another. In total, crews responded to the tent trailer which had spread to a garage, a utilty trailer, a dumpster in Irving Park, a stump in Irving Park, a garage door of a residence, a second stump in Irving Park and a shed in Irving Park. With multiple small fires being reported in a short time and within a small geographic area, additional crews were requested to be in the area to help fully extinguish the fires and to be prepared if more fires were found. 

At this time fire investigators from the Portland Fire Investigations Unit are on scene along with our Portland Police partners. Investigators do not have a person of interest at this time. If anyone has any information about these fires they are asked to call the Portland Fire Investigations Unit tip line at 503-823-FIRE (3473).

***UPDATE***

Our Fire Investigations Unit is actively investigating these fires and is requesting help from the community. If you have any video footage recorded between 3:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. in the affected areas, please share it with us by email at Jason.andersen@police.portlandoregon.gov or by calling 503-823-FIRE (3473).

The locations of the fire;

733 NE Fremont -  "shed" on fire.

Irving Park - Stumps on fire inside park.

728 NE Siskiyou - Tent Trailer in driveway covered in tarps

3122 NE 8th Ave - Utility Trailer on street.  

Irving Park - Dumpster and Debris on Fire,

3636 NE 7th Ave

Your assistance could be vital in helping us identify those responsible. 

Suspect Indicted In July 11th Fourth Alarm Apartment Fire -07/18/25

Today, Shaun Michael Szwarz was indicted on the following charges related to the 4^th alarm fire investigation on July 11, 2025:

Arson 1 (Measure 11) x 7

Attempted Murder x 4

Assault 1 x 2

Assault 2 x 4

Assault 3 x 2

Bias Crime 1 x 4

Criminal Mischief x 7

If you have any information regarding this fire, please reach contact 503-823-FIRE (3473) or Det. Meredith Hopper Meredith.hopper@police.portlandoregon.gov

Portland Fire Responds To 2nd Alarm Fire In NW Industrial Area (Photo) -07/11/25

Just after 6:45 PM, Portland Fire was dispatched to the NW Industrial Area on reports of a Commercial Building fire.   Responding crews noted a heavy black header (large column of smoke), while enroute.  Initial dispatch information noted several callers reported this fire.

The first arriving engine confirmed a large fire that appeared to be trash, possibly tires, and surrounding grass, brush and blackberries.  It did not appear that any structures were involved, and further investigation confirmed that no structures were involved but with the heavy fire and wind there was threat to some nearby buildings. 

This turned out to be a fire at an abandoned commercial property with thick vegetation and evidence of transient camps.  A second alarm was called due to the size of the scene and gusty winds blowing fire brands and starting spot fires.  Truck companies were used to check roofs of nearby large commercial buildings and to apply large amounts of water from aerial master streams.

Crews will be on-scene for a while to be sure all hot spots are extinguished and the deep-seated brush fire is fully extinguished.  Portland Fire and Rescue would like to extend a special thank you to Portland Police Bureau Air 1 for their assistance with providing valuable information to crews about the fire direction of travel and spot fire locations.

Suspect Arrested In AM 4-Alarm Fire -07/11/25

Suspect Arrested in AM 4-Alarm Fire

After much investigation one of the residents of the apartment building by the PPB-PFR Fire Investigations Unit, Shaun Szwarz, DOB 04/23/85, has been arrested on:

• 6 counts Arson 1
• 6 counts Reckless Endangering
• 6 counts Criminal Mischief 1

Two victims from the apartment building are still in the hospital with serious injuries to include 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns, inhalation injuries, fractured vertebrate, and ankle.  Several residents of the apartment complex had to be rescued by PF&R, and at least four residents jumped from upper floor windows to escape the fire.   

The investigation is still very active and any witnesses to the fire or other victims that have not spoken to Portland Fire & Rescue Investigators or PPB, please contact Det. Meredith Hopper Meredith.hopper@police.portlandoregon.gov

The combined PPB-PFR Fire Investigations Unit would like to thank the Oregon State Police Accelerant Detection K9 Team who provided invaluable assistance in this case.

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Busy Morning For Portland Fire & Rescue (Photo) -07/11/25

Busy Morning for Portland Fire & Rescue

Fourth Alarm Apartment Fire with a modified single family home fire quickly to follow

Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched out to a multi occupancy fire at just before 6 AM earlier today. Reports from the dispatch center indicated heavy fire present with occupants of the apartment complex jumping from windows to safety. This fire was reported to be in the Hazelwood Neighborhood along Burnside near 104^th Avenue. Dispatch updates as crews were enroute include “I have a caller on the line saying fire at their door” with others saying, “people are jumping from the second story windows” and “I have a caller seeing and smelling smoke from below and hearing lots of shouting”.

Portland Fire & Rescue Station 7, located approximately 25 blocks away, arrived to have heavy fire showing on a three-story apartment complex located at the north end of a parking lot approximately 150’ back from the street with people out at the street obviously injured. PPB Officers were already on scene clearing members of the community out of the working area for PF&R members to successfully focus on the work of rescue and suppression. Additionally, early communication from PPB Officers to crew members on scene directed firefighters to possible locations of rescue.

Engine 7 pulled into the parking area located behind a smaller structure at the street and pulled in as close as possible given the heavy fire present and filled the parking lot. Members of the crew began working toward establishing a water supply with E19 having triple ported a fire hydrant and connecting 2 hoses to provide the required amount of water needed to begin to suppress and cool the flames. A Triple Port set up allows for an additional hose line to be attached to hydrant to provide more water if needed. In this case the additional hose was not needed but a heads up move on the part of the water supply team to be forward thinking and prepare for the incident to get worse before it gets better.

Truck 7 quickly threw ladders to elevated windows with fire pushing out below them to affect rescue of occupants on the third level while also investigating the entire building to report information to the arriving Battalion Chief. As the rescues were occurring, members of Engine 7 grabbed large bore nozzle hose lines and began to apply water of the front of the complex, putting water into as many openings as possible, cooling and exitinguishing flames to provide safety for those remaining in the structure.

After establishing a water supply the members of Engine 19 were assigned to medical branch and began addressing the injured residents out at the street. There were two patients in need of medical attention at this time but the possibility of many more injuries led to command ordering 2 independent strike teams of ambulances totaling 10 AMR ambulances on scene or enroute to this emergency. One of the victims had jumped from an elevated position, injuring with a possible break of the ankle, along with partial thickness burns to the upper leg. The second occupant to be addressed medically early in the incident was reported to have smaller contact singe burns on their arm.

Once the initial reduction of flames occurred and early rescues were performed, many hoses were stretched to the structure and crews went interior to address the fire within the building. This building has 3 levels and 12 occupancies with the front 6 having much fire activity throughout. Burned wooden stairs led to clever use of ladders to be laid over the top of the burned treads from one landing to the next to successfully ascend from the ground level to the 3^rd floor with hose lines.

As interior fire suppression activities happened, Truck 2 with new recruits supervised by their training specialists made rescue of 6 occupants trapped in elevated apartments. This real world “on the job training” opportunity will provide these newest members a great foundation of experience to build from throughout their careers.

As rescues and suppression efforts moved forward, dispatchers communicated to command there was a family trapped in their apartment located in an area unaffected by fire, but they were unable to safely exit to the street due to fire present in other areas of the building. Crews made contact, had them shelter in place briefly and then escorted them to the street, a safe distance from the structure. This speaks to the critical assistance on incidents like this from our public safety partners at the dispatch center along with the importance of sheltering in a safe place, if possible, behind closed doors but not hiding.

As crews were working toward suppression and rescue, the command officer elevated this incident to a 4^th alarm assignment to ensure there was a large enough body of firefighters on scene to address the emergency. This draws close to 80 members from PF&R along with Gresham Fire to the scene leaving a large hole within the city. The PF&R Liaison Officer made the decision to move engines and trucks from areas of the city unaffected by this fire to move up into areas on the east side to ensure that all other emergencies that may occur during the time of this active fire would have a responder close by. Crews from downtown were placed out east, crews from SW were moved closer in, and crews from the north end were also brought into different stations to provide proper coverage of the city allowing us to manage the risk as best possible. There was also a crew from Lake Oswego Fire that moved up into a station in deep SW Portland to provide coverage.

The cause of this fire is still under investigation with the PF&R-PPB Fire Investigation Unit (FIU) having detained an individual for questioning. Any updates on the process of the investigation will be sent out as they come in. If you have any information regarding this fire, please contact 503-823-FIRE (3473).

There were 2 individuals injured in this fire. Along with the 8 humans rescued, PF&R also rescued 1 cat and 4 dogs. There will be at a minimum of 15 individuals displaced because of this fire with a possibility of an additional 16 because of structural damage and safe access to apartments. Red Cross has arrived on scene as is taking a lead on assisting occupants with relocation.

PF&R would like to thank all our partners in this incident as each was instrumental in providing us the assistance needed to safely address this fire. PPB aiding early on in helping in rescue and providing us a safe working area, Gresham Fire for their mutual aid response to the scene and Lake Oswego Fire in moving up into Portland to provide coverage, AMR for their assistance in medical triage and making transport as well as having 10 ambulances moving to the scene if needed along with Red Cross aiding in the relocation of occupants. Lastly it is important to mention the assistance from TriMet as they stopped the MaxLine trains running directly in front of this location as there were hose lines laying across the tracks from a secondary fire hydrant used and crews in and around the tracks working.

As crews were returning to their station to clean up from this early morning fire, another residential fire was reported in NE Portland in the Cully Neighborhood. Crews from Station 28 arrived to find a modified single-family home that now was divided up into 4 different occupancies with residents out in front with dark brown smoke pushing out under pressure and flames seen on the back side of the home.

A water supply was established and crews went to work suppressing the flames and extinguishing this fire. Crews that were moved up from downtown responded to this fire and performed work illustrating the importance of the Liaison Officer moving crews around to provide appropriate coverage in our response area.

Crews searched the structure, located all occupants, confirmed no one remaining in the interior and extinguished the fire quickly. No injuries were reported of resident or responder.

This fire was contained to one of the units in the back with a possibility of a front unit experiencing some damage as crews were investigating the attic space above for possible fire spread. This fire is under investigation and the cause is unknown. There will be 2 occupants displaced with the addition of another if the damage to the interior deemed unsafe for occupancy.

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Portland Fire – BOEC – 311 Firework Season Data -07/10/25

PF&R Extinguish 3 Intentionally Set Fires – Suspect In Custody (Photo) -07/10/25

PF&R extinguish 3 intentionally set fires – suspect in custody

At 11:16 AM Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a possible vegetation fire on the border of the Overlook and Arbor Lodge Neighborhoods along the bluff area that overlooks Swan Island and the Willamette River. This bluff area is filled with natural vegetation of tall dry grasses and large well-established trees.

Portland Fire & Rescue Engine 24 arrived at multiple grass and vegetation fires and was able to observe a suspect coming from the immediate area of one of the fires. As they watched the suspect flee and contacted PPB officers to search for the fire setter. The engine officer requested for PPB to respond to the scene in hopes of apprehending the suspect and provided the dispatch center with a good description of the suspect.

Engine 24 was quick in cooling and extinguishing the flames present in each unique location and prevented what could have been a large fire that ran the entire distance of the bluff as this area is currently filled with much fuel composed of these tall dry grasses and other vegetation. Along with the available fuels, the warmer weather and breezy conditions compound the fire dangers. The quick actions were certain to have prevented what would have been a larger fire that would have required many more resources.

PPB Officers responded to the area in question and using the description provided by the fire crews, was able to detain the suspect. The PF&R Fire Investigation Unit responded and took over the investigation.  The suspect, 41-year-old Joel Eipwon, was arrested on three counts of Arson in the First Degree. 

This bluff area has been designated protected property with a high fire danger and injury potential due to the well-known unhoused population, the permanent homes that sit at the top of the ridge, and the high use recreational trails throughout. This property designation allows the FIU to assign a charge of Arson 1 in each of these fires. The image attached clearly shows the area with all three fire locations noted. You can see the industrual complex of Swan Island downslope, the many high use recreational trails, the varied vegetation (from a time when the area was still "green"), and the residential neighborhood at the top of the slope. Had PF&R crews been unable to stop this fire quickly, the impact of the area could have been quite significant.

Any witnesses to these fires please contact Det. Meredith Hopper Meredith.hopper@police.portlandoregon.gov

Portland Fire & Rescue would like to remind those in the community that in the conditions we are currently experiencing, with warmer weather, winds, and abundant dry fuels, any use of open flame can lead to a catastrophic emergency. Although these fires may not fall under the same guidelines used when establishing the burn ban, it is a good reminder that any open flame use can lead to an undesired outcome. Please be cautious when discarding any smoking materials, properly cool and dispose of BBQ briquettes, and ensure that all travel trailer safety chains clear the roadway. One small spark or undesired hot spot can lead to a large preventable incident.

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