14-05-2025
Portland Fire & Rescue: Illegal burning letters are a fraud
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — If you get a letter from Portland Fire & Rescue about illegal burning on your property, it's a fraud.
That's what officials with Portland Fire & Rescue said Tuesday about the letters some city residents have received. Not only are the letters fake, officials said, the 800 phone number listed in the letter 'directs recipients to an adult content phone line.'
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There are a number of ways to know this is fake.
The logo on the envelope and the letterhead are not the same as the official PFR letterhead. The ordinance cited in the letter — which threatens fines of $1500 or 'involuntary' property forfeiture — has nothing to do with illegal burning or forfeiting property. The signature is not from Interim Chief AJ Jackson.
And then there's that 800 number.
In a statement, PFR officials said:
'Portland Fire & Rescue has not sent out these letters claiming you must contact a toll-free phone number or pay a fee that must be mailed to PF&R, nor has PF&R threatened any property owners with 'involuntary' property forfeiture. PF&R would like to remind Portlanders to never provide any financial information over the phone or by mail to an unknown or unverified source.'
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