At 2:53 this morning, Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a commercial fire at 1401 N Hayden Island Drive.  Engine 17 (Hayden Island) arrived to find that heavy fire had already vented through the roof.  The fire grew to 5 alarms by 4:23 AM.

This building has been vacant and secure for a number of years, but has been used for storage, which created a heavy fire load.  The main complex includes 5 additional structures, all connected by corridors.

Because of the size of the structure, heavy fire load, and vacant and secure status of the property, crews immediately began their fire attack using large volumes of water delivered through master streams. Master streams are the large diameter nozzles carried on top of the fire engines or on top of the ladders.  They are capable of putting out a tremendous volume of water. In addition to the land response, fire boats attacked the fire from the river.

The fire response included:
20 fire engines,
5 fire trucks,
1 squad,
3 fire boats
1 mobile command unit,
1 rehab unit,
1 air unit,
7 Chief officers, including Fire Chief Erin Janssens,
39 fire apparatus total

The fire was declared under control at 7:02 AM.

While requiring extensive resources, we have called back firefighters to staff reserve apparatus, and also utilized our mutual aid partners to continue to provide coverage across the city.  It's important to contain the fire from spreading to additional properties and also reduce fire spread through airborne embers. 

Contact:  Michael Silva, PIO

Portland Media Pager: 503-940-6003

Pictures by Fire Photographers, Greg Muhr and Dick Harris