Trending Topics

Ore. firefighters battle 4-alarm metal pile fire

Approximately 100 Portland firefighters responded to a fire involving a large pile of scrap metal at a recycling plant

By David Nuñez
oregonlive.com

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland firefighters responded Wednesday afternoon to a scrap fire at a metal recycler in North Portland that sent up a plume of dark smoke visible for miles over the city.

The four-alarm fire started at Radius Recycling in a large pile of mixed metals that included crushed cars and appliances headed for an industrial shredder, Portland Fire & Rescue officials said.

Workers broke up the mound into smaller piles to make the fire easier to control, said fire spokesperson Rick Graves.

“We are reducing the size of the pile, so there is less fuel,” Graves said. “As the claw moves the metal, we are also hitting it with water.”

No one was injured and no buildings were damaged, Graves said.

The fire began about 1 p.m. and was under control within four hours, fire officials said.

About 100 firefighters responded as crews used extended ladders fitted with hoses, machinery to move the debris and boats supplying water from the Willamette River to extinguish the fire, Graves said.

The cause remains under investigation.

©2024 Advance Local Media LLC.
Visit oregonlive.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Trending
Selma Fire and Rescue’s Capt. Aeneas Pettway, who served the department for 27 years as fire investigator and inspector is remembered by colleagues for his unwavering commitment and positive attitude
Chief George Martin, who served the Adrian Rural Fire District for more than 20 years, died after suffering a medical event while responding to a motor vehicle accident
About 80 Fort Lauderdale firefighters responded to a second-alarm blaze at the Backyard nightclub in the Himmarshee entertainment district, bringing it under control in about 30 minutes
Norman Courney crawled through smoke to reach his wife of 54 years, Linde Stern, who suffered burns and smoke inhalation when fire engulfed their converted Middletown train station home