From approximately 1:40 am until 4:15 am this morning, Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a series of 10 suspicious fires in the area of SE 161th and SE Alder, SE 160th and SE Stark, and several locations in this vicinity along E Burnside St. These fires included: a car fire that spread to a carport and threatened a residence; two other building fires; an additional car fire; one fire involving a homeless camp; two dumpster fires at an apartment complex; two garbage bin fires; and a mailbox fire. There were no injuries associated with any of these fires.

Portland Police Bureau officers, who were in the area investigating these suspicious fires, extinguished two of these fires using fire extinguishers carried in their patrol vehicles and arrested a female adult suspect early this morning in the area of SE 147th and E. Burnside St. This arrest was initially made on non-arson related charges; as of 12:30 pm today, after continued investigation by PPB and PF&R’s Investigations Unit, the suspect, Sierra Nicole Murdock, has been charged with two counts of Arson I with several more charges anticipated as the investigation progresses. 

PF&R would like to thank our PPB partners for their work in both quickly effectuating this arrest and extinguishing several of these fires themselves, thus potentially saving lives and property from further fires.

PPB and PF&R’s Investigations Unit are asking any witnesses to these fires or members of the public with any information on these fires to contact them via the contact information below.

Lt. Jason Andersen, PF&R: 503-823-3787

Tip Line: 503-823-INFO