PORTLAND, Ore. — Authorities have arrested a man who they said intentionally started a fast-moving grass fire that destroyed two Northeast Portland buildings and damaged several others on Aug. 26.
Allen Michael Singerhouse, 39, is charged with three counts of first-degree arson. He was also charged in two other arsons in September.
Detective Meredith Hopper said surveillance video provided after the fire cleared several people in the area at the time of the fire.
What struck investigators were images of a man on a bicycle at the fire who was also in video at several businesses before the fire, she said.
Police executed a search warrant at his home, according to court documents. They found clothing that matched what Singerhouse was seen wearing in surveillance video on the night the fire started.
Singerhouse was "emotional' when taken into custody, Hopper said without further description.
He was also accused of starting two dumpster fires on Sept. 1 in the 11700 block of Northeast Glen Widing Drive. He is also a suspect in fires near Southeast 101st Avenue and Foster Road. Anyone with information was asked to call 503-823 4636.
The Aug. 26 fire started in an abandoned driving range, near Northeast 85th Avenue and Siskiyou Street, and wind helped the fire spread quickly to the south. The old driving range hadn't been used in years and was overrun with blackberry bushes.
In the August fire, a townhome and another building were destroyed. Four other townhomes and Lumberyard Bike Park were also damaged after the fire spread quickly from the brush. Grand Avenue Boxing Club was also damaged by the fire.
The fire forced several evacuations and caused over $2 million in property damage.
