Fire crews swarmed the northern tip of Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood on Tuesday after reports of equipment on fire inside a Columbia Grain building near Kelley Point Park. Units were dispatched to the Port terminal area on the St. Johns peninsula, and officials had not immediately released details about injuries, containment or any suspected cause. The response remained active as firefighters worked to secure the scene.
Portland Fire & Rescue said on X that crews were responding to “reported equipment on fire inside a building at Columbia Grain” in the north end of St. Johns, close to Kelley Point Park. The bureau added that its social media account is not monitored at all hours and reminded the public to call 9-1-1 for emergencies, according to Portland Fire & Rescue. The post did not offer further details about conditions inside the facility.
The Columbia Grain terminal in Portland is listed at 15660 N Lombard Street on the St. Johns peninsula and operates within the Port’s terminal area. State boiler and vessel records identify Columbia Grain at that Lombard Street address, placing the facility near the tip of the peninsula and close to Kelley Point, according to Oregon Boiler and Combustion Division. The address aligns with Port terminal listings for the area.
Why Grain Facilities Can Be Hazardous
Grain-handling facilities carry particular fire and explosion risks because fine grain dust can ignite when it accumulates and becomes suspended in air. Federal safety guidance treats combustible dust as a serious hazard in these operations and calls for specific safeguards and housekeeping practices to limit the danger. For more detail on those standards, see OSHA.
Impact For St. Johns And Kelley Point Park
Kelley Point Park sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette rivers at N Marine Drive and N Kelley Point Park Road, a short distance from the Port terminal complex. The city’s parks department lists the park’s location and amenities on its website. As of Tuesday, officials had not indicated whether access to the park was restricted, but nearby residents and drivers could see smoke or encounter emergency traffic while crews continue to work the scene. For park information, see Portland Parks & Recreation.
Portland Fire & Rescue had not released additional information about cause or injuries as of its Tuesday post and reiterated that its X account is not monitored around the clock and that people should call 9-1-1 for urgent matters, per Portland Fire & Rescue. This story will be updated when officials provide more details.
