Why We Search: Transients Escape Portland Fire

Homeless people find their spot next door to a church on fire

Portland firefighters responded to a structure fire on North Maryland Avenue on 25 August. The structure was once a YWCA building and women’s shelter and had reportedly been abandoned for five years.

According to KOIN a homeless couple and their friend were sleeping in the boarded up house when one of them smelled smoke. A small fire was discovered and extinguished by those inside, but at some point later on the fire continued to burn (the news report is vague).

The transients were able to escape the house. A neighbor reported that squatter activity around the house was well known. Fire companies were able to extinguish the fire and protect the exposures.

It is ironic that the Side Bravo exposure is a church, isn’t it?

More items recently posted to the ‘Why We Search’ page include:

Tacoma, WA: Squatter dead in vacant house fire.

Saginaw, MI: Vacant home demolished after fire.

Fresno, CA: Squatter living in garage blamed for apartment fire.

Hamilton, MA: City works to fight rise in vacant building fires.

Additional

“Transient at house fire: ‘We could have died’” KOIN

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