PF&R Responds to 3 significant vegetation fires in 6-hour period.

Published

August 26, 2026 6:38 pm

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PFR Responds to 3 Wildland Fires in a 6-hour period

Portland Fire responded to 3 different vegetation fires of significance over a 6-hour period in NE and North Portland. The first was a series of grass fires along Marine Drive with an associated vehicle fire, the second was a large log along the banks of the Willamette River in North Portland, and the third was along I84 near NE 82^nd that was elevated to a second alarm.

There were 2 separate vegetation fires dispatched at 10:55 AM with the locations close to one another but distinctly different locations (multiple incidents along Marine Drive near the east end of the airport and one at the intersecction of NE 33rd and Marnie Drive) leading the BOEC dispatchers to create 2 separate calls with multiple stations responding to the area in question. Engine 14 out of the Vernon Neighborhood accessed NE 33^rd to address the grass fire called in at the intersection of NE 33^rd and NE Marine Drive. As they were ¼ south of Marine Drive they came across a vehicle in tow that was completely engulfed in flames. They redirected their efforts away from the grass fire and extinguished this vehicle in tow while crews from PF&R Station 2 (the training station), PF&R Station 30, and Port of Portland Fire addressed the multiple grass fires a called in by many in the dry grass along Marine Drive adjacent the airport. The grass that was burning was on the north side of the road between the bike path and Marine Drive. Port of Portland Fire used a crash truck initially to use their large capacity nozzle to flow water from airport property over the top of Marine Drive and landing a large volume of water on one of the patches of vegetation on fire. PF&R Crews drove along Marine Drive stopping at each fire to reduce all the flames and stop the fire from growing until moving to the next fire. In total there were 3 smaller fires and a larger area of grass that burned. It was discovered that the vehicle in tow had entered westbound Marine at 122^nd and began driving to NE 33^rd and turned south. It was not immediately clear to the driver pulling the car that the vehicle in tow was on fire and flammable material was actively floating off this mobile torch to the side of the road starting multiple spot fires in the dry grasses. The driver stopped once the fire was large enough for the driver to recognize the vehicle in tow was in fact completely consumed with flames. These fires were all addressed within 30 minutes of being dispatched with no reports of any injuries. Traffic was rerouted off this section of road while firefighters were working along the roadway.

The second of three unique vegetation fires was dispatched to Station 22 at 2:28 PM with reports of a significant smoke column near 6620 N. Richmond alongside the Willamette River. Brush Unit 22 and the ATV's assigned to the Shirley Ann out of Station 22 responded to the area of the smoke column.With many roads leading to impassable trails in the area, accessing the location of the fire was a challenge. After a few minutes of investigation, it was discovered a large log along the banks of Willamette was on fire. The command officer decided the best mechanism for extinguishing was to call out a fire boat to lob water onto the log from the river using one of the mounted deck turrets. The crew from Station 22 worked the area with their hand tools stopping the growth of the fire and providing more access to the flames within the large tree while Fire Boat 6 pulled water from the river and dropped it into the area affected by fire. Once the fire boat arrived, the fire was completely extinguished within 10 minutes with the fire boat motoring back to quarters and the Station 22 members returning to St. John's to be ready for their next emergency.

The third significant wildland or vegetation fire that was dispatched in this 6-hour period landed at 4:30 PM and was in the heavy brush and trees alongside I84 near NE 80^th in the Madison South Neighborhood. With significant flames showing visible from the freeway during rush hour traffic, the dispatch center had multiple calls regarding this emergency. Rescue 19 with a small pump and tank and Squad 12 arrived to begin putting water on the flames. Access was difficult with thick blackberry brambles at the end of the street forcing crews to use a chain saw to cut a pathway to the fire on the other side of the brush. Squad 12 was connected to a hydrant and then pumped into Rescue 19 that had multiple hoses extending off to firefighters cooling and extinguishing flames on the other side of the thick band of bushes located at the end of the street. With the flames extending into the tree canopy and showing 30' flame lengths, the command officer called for a second alarm as this vegetation fire was in proximity to multiple homes. If this fire extended to any structure, there would be a need for more personnel on scene to address the volume of fire. Fortunately, the crews on scene were able to reduce the body of fire well before any home was threatened and most 2^nd alarm companies never made it to the incident.

Portland Fire would like to thank the Port of Portland Fire for their assistance on the Marine Drive Incident, Port of Portland Police and PPB for providing traffic control on Marine Drive as crews worked along the roadway, and to thank the dispatchers at BOEC for their assistance on all three larger wildland vegetation fires. It should be noted that PF&R responded to well over 15 other smaller vegetation fires throughout the day as we are entering the second half of wildfire season with much of the fuels having dried up.

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Crews using tank water from Engine 14 to extinguish fire that had consumed a vehicle in tow behind this standard pick-up truck. Crews extinguishing one of many grass fires associated with a nearby vehicle fire. Crew members visible from PF&R Training Station - Station 2 and the Port of Portland Fire Department. Fire Boat 6 applying water onto the fire located on the bank of the Willamette River. Firefighters using a chain saw to cut through vegetation to gain access to the fire located on the other side of the thick brush. Squad 12 and Rescue 19 as they are set up in line from the hydrant pumping water out the fire hoses to extinguish the large vegetation fire. Firefighter applying water to the flames along the side of I84 and the rail road lines.