Dark smoke billows on Ross Island due to large fire in abandoned structure

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Dark smoke billowed through the sky Saturday in Southeast Portland due to a “wildland” fire on Ross Island, officials say.

Portland Fire and Rescue crews responded to the fire near the Willamette River east bank at Ross Island around 4:43 p.m.

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The cause of the fire remains unknown, but officials said it was connected to the island’s abandoned structures from the former Ross Island Sand and Gravel Co.

“Land-based crews have made access to what’s on fire on the island,” PF&R shared in a post on social media. “Old abandoned equipment and tractor tires.”

Sellwood resident Alexis Emerson said she noticed the black smoke right away.

“I can definitely start to smell the burnt rubber versus burnt trees,” Emerson said. “It started getting worse and worse. We probably shouldn’t be breathing this in.”

Crews came to the island to extinguish the garbage and tires that caught flame.

“We determined that there were no structures burning,” Deputy Chief of Emergency Operations Corey Wilson said. “There was a pile of debris, tires and petroleum products which was producing the dark smoke.”

More than 40 firefighters worked to put out the flames from the ground and on the water. Fireboat 21 used water from the Willamette River.

But Wilson said the crews faced challenges.

“With the winds, the weather and the dry grass, this pile of debris and tires is catching other trees and other piles on fire,” Wilson said.

PF&R said most of the fire had been contained by 7:30, but “the problem is the tires keep reigniting.”

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

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