PORTLAND, Ore. — A man attempted to set fire to a Portland Fire & Rescue station in the Montavilla neighborhood late Saturday morning, according to a statement from the agency.
Firefighters from Fire Station 19 at 7301 East Burnside Street were being dispatched on an emergency call late Saturday morning when they noticed a man "rustling around between some shrubs and the fire station."
When fire crews later returned to the station, they smelled smoke. After looking around the building, PF&R said, they found a fire burning outside the station's dormitory windows, between some shrubs and the building's exterior wall.
The fire stained bricks on the building's wall with soot, but PF&R did not indicate that it caused any lasting damage. According to the agency, the person responsible used "ordinary combustibles" to set the fire.
PF&R said that the suspect's identity is unknown, but it is believed to have been a man.
Fire Station 19 serves the Montavilla, Mount Tabor, North Tabor and South Tabor neighborhoods.
Anyone with more information about the arson attempt is asked to contact Lt. Jason Andersen at 503-823-3787 or by email at Jason.andersen@police.portlandoregon.gov.
