The Gresham Fire Department is conducting an investigation into two separate fires that occurred on Tuesday, both incidents now confirmed as arson. The first call led fire crews from both Gresham and Portland to the East Portland Moose Lodge predawn, at approximately 4:55 am, where they encountered flames and broken windows at the front of the building; the fire was promptly extinguished, leading to an immediate request for a fire investigator, according to the City of Gresham, Oregon.
Following the Moose Lodge incident, another fire call came in at just after 9:15 am, this time pulling firefighters to a church located on NE Halsey St., a short distance away from the earlier fire and here too first responders discovered a similar scene with broken windows and signs of fire, the details of which were repeated in the Gresham Fire Department's estimator's analysis that was later released to the public, as reported by the City of Gresham, Oregon.
A clear pattern is starting to appear, as both fires at the lodge and the church seem to have been set on purpose, according to the fire investigator. Because the two incidents happened close together and are similar, authorities are considering a possible connection. Gresham Fire is now working with local police to investigate further, as per the City of resham, Oregon.
As part of the ongoing probe, the Gresham Fire Department is appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the apprehension of those responsible for setting the fires, confirming that no injuries were reported in either case but highlighting the significant risks such acts of arson pose to the community, "These incidents were the result of an intentionally set fire," according to the fire investigator's findings cited in a statement obtained by the City of Gresham, Oregon news release.
The Gresham Police Department is joining the inquiry into the fires, offering additional resources for what could potentially unfold as a criminal case, if those suspected are apprehended and found to have willfully endangered properties and lives; any individuals with knowledge pertaining to the fires are encouraged to contact law enforcement, supporting authorities in weaving together the narrative of this unusual pair of early morning incidents.
