Passengers aboard the Portland Spirit were ushered to safety last Saturday night after a reported fire on the vessel roused a sizable response from Portland Fire & Rescue. Alarm permeated the evening at South Waterfront Park, as emergency units were dispatched to the Spirit dock on reports of a blaze aboard one of the city’s famed river cruise ships.
The first responders arriving around 8:30 p.m. were met with no visible fire, but signs that an extinguisher had been deployed, hinting at an incident contained before it could unfurl its frightening potential. The vessel, known as the Willamette Star, was experiencing mechanical issues prior to the evacuation, as reported by KOIN 6 News. Despite the urgency, no medical emergencies emerged from the event.
FOX 12 revealed that the affair concluded without casualty or calamity, a fortunate turn for the 68 souls aboard who had been preemptively ferried to safety by the diligent crew and responders. Meanwhile, investigatory efforts are underway to ascertain the root of the scare that shook passengers and crew alike.
After the incident, the Portland Spirit returned to service, once again carrying passengers along the Willamette River. Portland Fire and Rescue said a full inspection found the vessel safe to operate, a statement also reported by KGW. The cause of the earlier mechanical issue and evacuation remains unknown.
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