Portland Fire responds to fire at Multnomah County Bridge Maintenance Facility (Photo)

December 12, 2023 21:50

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Portland Fire Responds to County Bridge Maintenance Facility

Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a commercial fire just after 6 PM in the Central Eastside Neighborhood at the Multnomah County Bridge Maintenance Facility located near the Willamette River on SE Madison. A second alarm fire response was requested during the incident, which brings nearly 60 firefighters to the scene, to be certain to have enough firefighters on scene to address the flames and the complexities of the incident. The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes of being dispatched out no injuries reported. There was a maintenance employee on site that was evaluated for any medical concerns and released with no medical issue. This fire is under investigation.

This structure affected by the fire is split into a 2-level office space that houses the bridge engineers on the river side of the building and a workshop side where specialized equipment is housed and maintained. The closest fire station to this structure is less than 1/8 of a mile away, on the banks of the Willamette on Madison where on duty members heard the explosion and began mobilizing to respond somewhere. As they were getting ready, the dispatched message of the incident was broadcasted over the speaker system while a member of the public was knocking on the door to alert the crews to a fire. 

Portland BOEC reported on the initial dispatch alert an audible explosion heard and black smoke billowing out of the maintenance building. This engine reported heavy black smoke pushing out under pressure of all 3 bay doors on the maintenance side of the facility upon arrival. As the crew was using a saw to cut an access port into the cyclone fencing that surrounds the facility, other crews began to arrive. Once the access to the property was established, crews used circular saws to cut access ports into the bay doors to apply water on the flames now visible from the exterior of the maintenance side of the building. One of the doors was reportedly bulging outward with all the fire activity on the interior of the garage area. With the heavy flames and smoke pushing out under pressure a defensive tactic was initially established to flow large amounts of water through the openings cut into the roll up bay doors. 

After much of the fire was cooled through the large bore hoses the command officer directed crews to transition into an offensive fire attack and carry smaller hose lines to the interior to eliminate all the fire. As this transition occurred the primary and secondary search of the office side of the structure was completed with all occupants confirmed out safely. As the hose lines were drawn interior, a primary search of the garage side occurred and was also clear of any staff members. Within 20 minutes of being dispatched out, the fire was extinguished, and crews began to break down the larger diameter hoses used early in the incident. A secondary search of the garage area was performed and reported all clear as the extinguishment of smoldering machinery occurred. The command officer began to release companies not assigned with members of the closest fire stations and members of the training station to remain on scene finishing up the extinguishment and other associated tasks to turn the facility over safely to the responsible party.

With the location of this building tucked away under elevated roadways and powerlines, use of any aerial ladder pipes was not possible adding a challenge to this fire on top of the heavy security fencing on the perimeter. Additionally, the heavy equipment with many fuels located within the building provided much material to burn hot and produce large amounts of smoke that also slowed the progress of crews early on.

Portland Fire would like to thank members of BOEC, PPB, PGE, and staff of the facility in their assistance on this incident. PF&R would also like to thank the railroad for suspending operations to allow open roadway access to the fire location with the location of multiple rail lines just to the east of this building. Lastly, Portland Fire & Rescue would also like to remind members of the community to always call 911 when black smoke is pushing out of a structure under pressure, even if you are within 1/8 of a mile from a known fire station as PF&R crews are constantly responding to emergency incidents and there is a chance one could knock on the door of an empty fire station. Please contact Multnomah County for any updates or changes to the operational capacities of any bridge that crosses the Willamette River in the downtown core area of Portland.

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