PF&R Responds To Multiple Van Fire Overnight (Photo) - 06/22/26

PF&R Responds to multiple van fire overnight

At just before 2:30 AM Portland Fire was dispatched to a potential vegetation fire near the Rivian Dealership and Service Center in SW Portland in the South Portland Neighborhood. This incident was called into the dispatch center by multiple passerby vehicles reporting trees on fire with one of the callers possibly identifying a van also on fire. This type of incident will send a single fire engine as the responder. Engine 4 arrived to find multiple Amazon Prime Electric Vans on fire which elevated this call to a commercial fire response adding 5 engines, 2 trucks, a heavy squad and 2 chief officers. This fire has been determined to be intentionally set and being investigated as arson with the PF&R-PPB Fire Investigations Unit is looking for any information that may help identify an individual or group responsible for setting this fire.

The initial response of the on-scene crews was to protect all exposures to the vans on fire. While cooling the vans is a critical part of this effort, the bulk of work performed on scene so to protect the structures, other neighboring vehicles, and any more trees that are involved in the fire. As crews arrived on scene, they were assigned a task to reduce the dangers presented by the fire that consuming what was four (4) Amazon Prime Delivery Vans. The battery compartments of these vehicles contains rechargeable battery cells that become extremely difficult to extinguish once they have reached ignition or have gone into a state of thermal runaway. In order for these Lithium-Ion batteries to be completely extinguished, they either must be completely encapsulated by water or the fuel needs to be completely consumed by fire. The crews on scene were forced to allow the battery cells to completely consume themselves with fire prior to the fire being completely extinguished. Crews protected exposures until the fire had consumed the battery cells and were then able to finish the extinguishment of any non-battery remnants of the shell of the former delivery vans. The crews remained on scene for nearly 90 minutes preventing any extension of this fire to any new objects and kept the fire to the 4 vans. 

The toxins within the smoke produced by the fire are extremely toxic and all responders were using their protective air bottles throughout the entire time on scene with the command officer frequently reminding all on scene to stay out of the smoke if possible and to wear the protective mask and bottle at all times. Once back at the station to begin the second 24 hours of this shift, members placed all clothing that contacted the smoke through the extraction devices at each station to remove any of the toxins that have been absorbed during the firefighting efforts. There is no current danger to anyone in the area as a result of the fumes or smoke from this incident. Portland Fire would like to remind all to avoid inhaling any smoke from any fire and always move upwind of an incident if possible. There have been no reported injuries associated with this fire at this time.

The PF&R-PPB Fire/Arson Investigations Unit has opened an investigation into the cause of these fires. Based on the preliminary investigation, investigators have determined the fires were intentionally set and are being investigated as arson.

At this time, investigators are seeking any information that may assist with the investigation. Anyone who has helpful information, observed suspicious activity, or believes they witnessed anything related to this incident is asked to leave a message with the PF&R Fire Information Line at 503-823-FIRE (3473) or email arsontips@police.portlandoregon.gov.

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