PORTLAND, Ore. — Authorities arrested a man in connection with six Wednesday morning fires in Portland that were deemed arson.
Jesse Austin Small faces eight counts of arson. He was arrested by fire investigators Thursday.
According to Portland Fire and Rescue, Small set six fires in North Portland in a 40-minute span early Wednesday morning. The fires caused an estimated $142,500 in damage.
Investigators received several surveillance videos from cameras around the fires, which led to Small’s identification as a suspect and his arrest.
Portland Fire and Rescue offered the following details about the fires:
4:59 a.m. - Vehicle fire on North Borthwick Avenue; van set on fire which extended to a structure. Damage: $25,000.
5:07 a.m. - Vehicle fire near North Albina and North Failing; motorcycle cover set on fire which damaged cover and motorcycle. Damage: $2,500.
5:19 a.m. - Cold fire (fire extinguished prior to firefighter arrival) across from 4284 N. Maryland St.; papers set in the wheel well of the vehicle were found burning next to car. No damage.
5:22 a.m. - Commercial fire at 5501 N. Interstate Ave.; exterior fire which destroyed garage/storage area of George’s Corner Tavern. Fire caused damage to the apartment complex next door at 1519 N. Interstate Avenue. Damages: $75,000.
5:33 a.m. - Vehicle fire at 5055 N. Interstate Avenue. Vehicle was parked in a parking lot beneath an occupied apartment building. Firefighters came across vehicle fire while responding to a fire at a different location. Early discovery of this fire prevented damage to the apartment building. Damages: $35,000.
5:36 a.m. - Structure fire at 7350 N. Greenwich Ave. Apartment building under construction. An exterior fire spread to the structure. Damages: $5,000.
Small was taken to the Multnomah County Jail.