PORTLAND, Ore. — A fire broke out Saturday afternoon on Ross Island along the Willamette River, sending up a plume of black smoke visible from as far away as downtown Portland. The cause is still unknown as of Sunday afternoon, but Portland Fire has cleared the island.
On Saturday, Portland Fire and Rescue responded to the three-alarm fire, sending about 40 firefighters to the scene. Some crews traveled in Rescue Boat 21 to Ross Island to fight the flames on land. Others stayed aboard fireboat 21, attacking the fire from the Willamette River.
Katia Minor, a spokesperson for Portland Fire said crews found old "abandoned" equipment and tractor tires that were burning, but no structures were involved. Minor said those materials created the thick, black smoke.
As of 9:30 pm Saturday, Minor said the fire wasn't actively burning, "just smoldering in some spots."
Portland Fire plans to stay on Ross Island until dark, then return in the morning.
On Sunday, Portland Fire had two fire boats out in the morning, with two land-based crews. Both worked to put out any leftover hot spots, and at 10 a.m., the fire was "deemed under control, and all of our personnel and equipment had cleared the island by 11:30," Minor said.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as more details come.
