Latest news with #PF&R
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Yahoo
Body found in Willamette River near Steel Bridge
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A body was found floating in the Willamette River near the Steel Bridge late Sunday morning, according to Portland Fire & Rescue. Around 11 a.m., officials said a 911 caller reported a body floating in the water near the Eastbank Esplanade. After arriving in the area, a PF&R rescue boat crew then found and recovered the body. The body has been taken to Cathedral Park and turned over to the medical examiner, who will determine the cause and manner of death, authorities said. No other information is available at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Traffic impacted as Portland crews mop up I-5 fire near Greeley Avenue ramp
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A fire off I-5 near the Greeley Avenue Ramp has been mostly extinguished after it sparked early Thursday afternoon. The vegetation fire was first reported around 12:10 p.m. on the slope of N Greeley Avenue, according to Portland Fire & Rescue. By 12:45 p.m., the fire was mostly out. Rowena Fire burning in Wasco County was human-caused, wildland officials say 'Crews will be on scene for an extended time period to mop up all hot spots,' PF&R said. 'Traffic will be affected on Greeley for an extended period of time with crews working on this hillside vegetation fire.' The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue our seasonal fire coverage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
PF&R investigating ‘suspicious' Powellhurst-Gilbert apartment fire
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Portland Fire & Rescue is investigating after a 'suspicious' fire at an apartment building in the Powellhurst-Gilber Neighborhood early Sunday morning. Just before 6 a.m., PF&R responded to a reported residential fire near the intersection of Southeast 118th and Holgate, where the Bureau of Emergency Communication indicated that fire and smoke was seen from a recently vacated apartment. On the scene, crews saw the blaze on the first and second level of an apartment with smoke pushing through the garage and on the eave line. Sheriff wants to charge for rescues of 'negligent, reckless' hikers in Skamania County Crews were able to quickly suppress the fire and said all occupants made it out of the building. According to PF&R, there were no reported injuries and neighboring apartment units were unaffected. Officials said there were reports of a suspicious person on the property who was quickly arrested by police and has since been released from police custody. Portland's 10 best burger joints of 2025, according to Yelp 'After conducting their scene examination, collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses and the deploying our Arson K9, fire investigators believe this fire was intentionally set,' PF&R said. Investigators are asking community members for help identifying any suspicious behavior before the fire. Anyone who saw anything suspicious while traveling along SE Holgate between 5:30 a.m. and 5:50 a.m. Sunday morning is asked to contact Portland Fire & Rescue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
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.' Van with damaged bumpers, taped window sought in possible SE Portland abduction 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.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ombudsman releases scathing report on Portland Fire & Rescue
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Five months after a KOIN 6 News investigation, the Portland Ombudsman's Office called out Portland Fire & Rescue for fire safety issues at a relatively new Habitat for Humanity complex. The Ombudsman's Office initially spoke to KOIN 6 News about their investigation in the days after the KOIN 6 News investigation detailed the issues in late December 2024. The Cherry Blossom Townhomes near Mall 205 in Portland were approved at the last minute despite fire inspector warnings about code violations and without a required appeals process, the Ombudsman's report determined. Potential fire access issues Deputy Ombudsman Tony Green told KOIN 6 News his biggest concern is missing fire lane signs and rampant parking that blocks fire truck access. 'I am surprised that the Fire Bureau isn't acknowledging the problems with the parking,' Green said. 'And the other problem that they're not acknowledging is that the ground ladders do not meet best practices with the height of the building, and so they need to have an aerial access in there.' He said the buildings may exceed the height (30 feet) that requires a 26-foot-wide access road or an automatic sprinkler system, neither of which was implemented. Firefighters determined that some of the buildings were too tall to follow best practices for ground ladders, the memo stated. Parking on the access road and sidewalks narrows the available width to 17 feet, he said, obstructing space needed for aerial ladder trucks to fully deploy stabilizing braces. Turnaround requirement possibly overlooked The investigation stated the dead-end access road may exceed 300 feet in length, which could require a turnaround under local interpretations of the Fire Code. PF&R accepted a 'Y' shaped fork as a substitute, but again, the ombudsman found no written record that explains this decision. Inconsistent and delayed communication A homeowner raised safety concerns in Oct. 2023 then again in July 2024, but the investigation found PF&R took months to respond, offered conflicting information, and failed to follow through on promised communications. Homeowners received mixed messages about whether parking changes were needed and never received the formal guidance they were promised, Green said. 'I don't feel safe at all, but I feel less safe than ever because the fire department, it's their job and their duty to keep us safe, and they failed to do that,' said homeowner Lacey Sutton. Even after being alerted to his findings, Green told KOIN 6 News, fire officials remain in denial. 'That was disappointing that they, at least at this point, have not acknowledged the problems and have not embraced a leadership role in determining and helping this place move towards the safest possible arrangement,' Green said. In his memo released early Wednesday, Green recommends: PF&R provide written documentation explaining how firefighters can respond safely to emergencies at the site Give written recommendations on parking restrictions and any needed safety improvements Hold a public meeting to allow residents to ask questions and receive direct answers from fire officials. 'What I had hoped to accomplish was for the Fire Bureau to take some responsibility for the situation and help guide the homeowners association,' Green said. In response, Portland Fire Marshal Kari Schimel said PF&R is committed to holding a meeting to answer homeowners questions and concerns. Cherry Blossom Response LetterDownload KOIN 6 News will have more information later in the day, including homeowners, officials from Habitat for Humanity and Portland Fire & Rescue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
