Early Morning Fire Burns Six Food Carts Near PSU

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Robby Davis, GolocalPDX Contributor

Portland Fire crews responded to a call regarding six food carts that caught on fire in Southwest Portland early Tuesday morning near Portland State University. All six food carts are located on SW 4th Avenue between Hall and College. The fire was quickly contained due to the fact that Portland fire station 4 is located couple streets over at 5th and College.

Although six food carts were damaged only four are considered to be a complete loss, according to Portland Fire and Rescue. These small food carts usually run off of propane tanks and two of the tanks that were found continued to leak for more than an hour following the fire.

The fire caused road closures along SW 4th, SW 5th, SW College and SW Hall until 8 a.m. this morning.

The Arson Investigation Unit still considers the fire to be under investigation.

Related Slideshow: 10 Significant Portland Fires

A four-alarm fire ripped through South Albany High School Wednesday morning, causing more than $1 million in damage.

The community will spend the coming weeks and months recovering from the blaze -- but it's not the first time a fire has significantly impacted a Portland area school, church or neighborhood building.

Here are 10 significant fires to recently impact Portland area communities.

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Thunderbird on the River - September 2012

Thunderbird on the River, formerly the Red Lion Hotel, which had been vacant since 2005, was destroyed in a fire that caused more than $5 million in damages.

One of only two five-alarm fires in recent years, the abandoned hotel on Hayden Island was home to multiple transient people and its owners owed more than $1 million in property taxes when it burned.

Photo: YouTube / Michelle Kottwitz

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Monroe Apartments - August 2013

The 46-unit apartment complex under construction on NE Monroe St. and NE MLK Boulevard burned to the ground in a five-alarm fire in August 2013. Officials estimated the damage to be $4 million.

Investigators later determined the blaze in the six-story development was caused by arson.

Photo: Flash Alert Newswire

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Eola Hills Charter School - October 2013

The Eola Hills Charter School, a small school in the Amity School District in Polk County burned to the ground in October 2013.

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Open Meadow High School - April 2014

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St. Andrews Church - April 2013

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Damages from the fire, which started in the church’s game room, were estimated to be $20,000.

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Crestline Elementary - February 2013

The Vancouver, Washington elementary burned down when a 17-year-old boy, later sentenced to 10 days in custody, started a fire on the school grounds.

The three-alarm fire caused more than $20 million in damage, but the school was rebuilt, and reopened for the 2014-2015 school year.

Photo: YouTube / Noah Patraw

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Marysville Elementary School - November 2009

The historic Southeast Portland elementary school was destroyed in a three-alarm blaze in which 500 students and teachers had to be evacuated.

The school reopened in January 2013, after roughly $4.5 million in repairs.

Photo: Youtube / Oregonashman

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South Albany High School - April 2015

A four-alarm fire ripped through South Albany High School Wednesday morning, causing more than $1 million in damage.

The fire was in the school's cafeteria and auditorium, cancelling class for South Albany's 1,300 students. Oregon Governor Kate Brown visited the site of the blaze.

Photo: Lebanon Fire District

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Chapman Elementary School - August 2013

A teacher arriving early fortunately spotted the orange glow of a growing fire in the Northwest Portland elementary school.

Fire investigators determined the blaze was caused by oily rags left in a trash can.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Apolistic Faith Church - February 2013

A two-alarm fire damaged the church at Southeast 52nd Avenue and Duke Street in February 2013.

The blaze, which started in the attic and presented multiple structural challenges for firefighters, due to the building's sloped roof. It caused roughly $1 million in damage.