On the evening of July 4, Portland Fire & Rescue teams were summoned to tackle a major fire that erupted at a pallet recycling site in NE Portland. The blaze, which eventually escalated to a 3rd alarm fire, caused extensive damage to both the piles of wooden pallets and the building that housed the recycling business's office. According to officials, there were fortunately no injuries as a result of the incident, and the cause of the fire is currently under review, as detailed by the Portland Fire & Rescue's official website.
Responders originally arrived on the scene before 7:30 PM, after reports of a significant smoke column alerting them to the severity of the situation. Firefighting Ping teams had to adopt defensive tactics as the fire's intensity and the large stacks of burning pallets posed serious risks, leading to an aerial offensive with ladder trucks delivering streams of water up to 2000 gallons per minute, as per the Portland Fire & Rescue. Assistance from the Port of Portland's Fire Department with their specialized AARF rig proved valuable in tackling the fire, following a quick deployment of their 3000-gallon tank.
The second incident, occurring near Montavilla Park at 9:15 PM, involved a triplex where eight people resided. Firefighters reported no injuries and believe two cats caught in the incident managed to find safe refuge inside the building. "Fire was obviously running through what appeared to be an open attic space without fire blocks" a statement obtained from the official fire department's report indicated. The blaze, seemingly ignited by a BBQ that had toppled over and lit the building's siding, necessitated a second alarm call, but, luckily, the rapid response and effective firefighting allowed for a prompt handle of the situation, and no further escalation was needed.
