Fire Investigators have determined that the 3 alarm fire at Empire Rubber & Supply on Tuesday evening was caused by “improper disposal of charcoal ashes.”
Earlier in the day the company had a BBQ for its employees. During the clean up one of the employees placed the ashes in a plastic container. After they closed for the day the ashes melted though the plastic container and ignited nearby combustibles.
Ashes from cigarettes, fireplaces or BBQs should always be placed in a metal container, doused with water and placed outside away from decks or anything else that will burn. Charcoal in particular can stay hot, and burn for days. A metal container with a tight fitting metal lid can ensure that the fire and heat stays inside the metal container.
At about 5:20 this evening a fire was reported at Empire Ribber & Supply 80 SE Taylor St. When the firefighters from Truck 1 arrived they reported “heavy smoke showing …"
Firefighters attempted to attack the fire but were driven out of the building by reports from Engine 1, that the roof was collapsing. Deputy Chief John Harding immediately ordered all crews out of the building and he ordered a roll call of those companies that had been fighting the fire inside the building. This ensures that all firefighters have exited the building and are safely outside.
Firefighters were able to make a stand in an attached portion of the building that contained the offices and important records storage. The fire threatened to spread though several large openings in the concrete wall but firefighters were able to beat the fire back so that there was only minimal damage.
There were initial reports of someone in a window of one of the buildings near the fire building but that person escaped. No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.
The busy rail line through SE Portland was shut down for a little over an hour. It was reopened as soon as water supply hoses could be removed from the tracks.