PORTLAND, Ore. — Firefighters battled a large fire Thursday night that started in a stack of pallets at a pallet recycling center in Northeast Portland before spreading to a home on the property that also serves as a business office. It was one of multiple fires in the Portland area on the Fourth of July.
Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) said there was concern that the fire, which started shortly after 7:30 p.m., would spread to other neighboring buildings because of strong northwest winds and the size of the blaze. But a large response — nearly 75 firefighters; four aerial ladder trucks flowing 1,200 to 2,000 gallons of water per minute from above; and a specialized rig, typically utilized to put out airplane fires, from the Portland of Portland Fire Department that dumped its 3,000-gallon tank of water onto the fire — was able to reduce the fire and get it under control within an hour.
Firefighters had to deal with downed power lines as well, but the power company was able to cut the power so crews could work safely.
Fire officials told KGW they did everything they could to save the building on the property but were unable to do so. A person who works next door expressed gratitude that the fire didn't spread to his building, but was sad to see his neighbor's loss. "Of course I'm grateful that my building didn't burn down, but I'm sad for my neighbors," he said.
There were no reported injuries, and no details yet as to how the fire started.
The large pallet blaze was one of multiple fires in the Portland area on Thursday night. Eight people lost their homes after a barbecue pit fell over and caused a triplex to burn down at around 9:15 p.m. near Montavilla Park in Northeast Portland. Everyone was able to get out of the complex safely and the Red Cross is helping those displaced find a place to stay.
Lake Oswego fire officials reported that a large dumpster fire at the Westlake Shopping Center on Thursday night was caused by improperly discarded fireworks. Damages are estimated to be about $30,000.
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