Portland scrap fire spreads to apartments; cats killed
(Update: Apartment building, duplex hit; more than dozen cats killed)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A large fire at a Portland scrap yard has spread to an apartment building and a duplex, burning some units.
The wind-driven fire began Monday morning and fire officials say it will burn for hours. No injuries have been reported, though more than dozen cats have died.
Portland Fire & Rescue says piles of scrap cars caught fire, and the blaze has been difficult to fight because of the wind, flammable materials and an inadequate water supply.
A giant plume of smoke could be seen for miles in the Portland area and Vancouver, Washington. Fire officials evacuated some homes, and said anyone within a mile of the blaze should close their windows or leave.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
It ignited at about 9 a.m. at the NW Metal scrap yard in northeast Portland.
The department said anyone near the smoke should close their windows or go somewhere else for a few hours.
At least three structures on the property, including an apartment and a duplex, have burned, KGW reports. Officials said everyone working at the yard was able to get out safely.
Portland Fire & Rescue called out five alarms for the blaze, a significant number of firefighters and equipment. Fire crews from the Port of Portland at PDX and Gresham Fire were assisting, and the power was turned off in the area for the safety of the firefighters.
KGW said it received reports of power lines coming down around the fire, making the job more dangerous for crews fighting the fire.
At mid-morning, fire officials suggested that anyone near the fire leave the area or shutter doors and windows.
About 11:30 a.m., the Fire Bureau started evacuating people from homes along 75th Avenue and said people within a mile of the fire should shutter doors and windows and turn off HVAC systems.
