Update: Centennial Mills fire investigation and next steps for demolition

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Since Sunday, Aug. 2, when Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a four-alarm fire in the 1300 Block of Northwest Naito Parkway at the Centennial Mills building, the City of Portland and its partners have been working quickly and thoughtfully to secure the area, investigate the fire and its impacts on our community and environment, and prepare a controlled demolition plan. This work requires specialized equipment and expertise to ensure the health and safety of our community.

The warehouse remains an active investigation site, with multiple agencies involved. Fire & Rescue is continuing its investigation, with practices in place to ensure the safety of our responders. The overall investigation timeline is difficult to establish, as any findings may create additional investigatory needs. Once that is complete, Portland Permitting & Development and the larger Emergency Operations Center will coordinate demolition and clean-up.  

The owner of the building is in contact with City staff and has engaged the services of an engineer and demolition contractor. Today, PP&D issued a notice to the property owner with an order to demolish the building, and PP&D issued the demolition permit. Additional details on the demolition plan will be shared as they become available.

This is not a typical demolition. Because the building is at imminent risk of collapse, the work requires specialized engineering, equipment, and demolition expertise to protect workers, adjacent infrastructure, the railroad, and the surrounding community. The condition of the structure also limits the number of contractors with the specialized experience, equipment, and capabilities to safely perform this work. While everyone involved is committed to moving as quickly as possible, these factors require careful planning and coordination before demolition can safely begin. 

As this critical planning is underway, Fire & Rescue has worked with an engineer to establish a safety perimeter to protect public health and safety in the event of a building collapse - a minimum of 1.5 times the building height, to protect the public. Fire is actively monitoring the perimeter and will adjust as the situation develops. 

For your safety, please obey the posted closure signs and barrier tape. The City is providing ongoing updates as it addresses the aftermath of this fire.

Find additional information and ongoing updates