Reward Offered in Portland Arson of Homeless Person’s Tent

Friday, January 22, 2016

GoLocalPDX News Team

The Portland Police Bureau and Portland Fire and Rescue, in cooperation with Crime Stoppers of Oregon, is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of an arson who started a fire in a Portland homeless person’s tent in December.

Early on the morning of December 5, Portland Police Bureau Central Precinct officers and Portland Fire and Rescue firefighters responded to the report of a tent fire on Northwest Irving Street, between 6th Avenue and Broadway.

The fire was quickly extinguished and there were no injuries to the person living in the tent.

Arson investigators soon arrived on the scene and began an investigation after witnesses reported seeing someone pour an ignitable liquid onto the tent and light it on fire.

The suspect is described as a male, unknown race, riding a skateboard with yellow wheels. The suspect was wearing some kind of mask, hat, dark jacket, red sleeves, and a large backpack.

Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime and tipsters can remain anonymous.

Information about unsolved homicides can lead to a reward of up to $2,500 cash. All other unsolved felony crimes are eligible for cash rewards of up to $1,000.

Information learned from social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube should be shared as these tips may lead to the identification of a suspect or suspects. Links can be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

Related Slideshow: 10 Significant Portland Fires

A four-alarm fire ripped through South Albany High School Wednesday morning, causing more than $1 million in damage.

The community will spend the coming weeks and months recovering from the blaze -- but it's not the first time a fire has significantly impacted a Portland area school, church or neighborhood building.

Here are 10 significant fires to recently impact Portland area communities.

Prev Next

Thunderbird on the River - September 2012

Thunderbird on the River, formerly the Red Lion Hotel, which had been vacant since 2005, was destroyed in a fire that caused more than $5 million in damages.

One of only two five-alarm fires in recent years, the abandoned hotel on Hayden Island was home to multiple transient people and its owners owed more than $1 million in property taxes when it burned.

Photo: YouTube / Michelle Kottwitz

Prev Next

Monroe Apartments - August 2013

The 46-unit apartment complex under construction on NE Monroe St. and NE MLK Boulevard burned to the ground in a five-alarm fire in August 2013. Officials estimated the damage to be $4 million.

Investigators later determined the blaze in the six-story development was caused by arson.

Photo: Flash Alert Newswire

Prev Next

Eola Hills Charter School - October 2013

The Eola Hills Charter School, a small school in the Amity School District in Polk County burned to the ground in October 2013.

The school, previously called the Ballston Community School, moved its 42 students to a McMinnville church following the blaze.

Prev Next

Open Meadow High School - April 2014

The Victorian house turned alternative school on Portland’s North Crawford Street was set to close the following year. The fire caused an estimated $50,000 in damage.

The property, now restored, is currently for sale.

Prev Next

St. Andrews Church - April 2013

A two-alarm fire during Sunday service at the Presbyterian church on SW Sunset Boulevard caused the entire congregation to be evacuated.

Damages from the fire, which started in the church’s game room, were estimated to be $20,000.

Prev Next

Crestline Elementary - February 2013

The Vancouver, Washington elementary burned down when a 17-year-old boy, later sentenced to 10 days in custody, started a fire on the school grounds.

The three-alarm fire caused more than $20 million in damage, but the school was rebuilt, and reopened for the 2014-2015 school year.

Photo: YouTube / Noah Patraw

Prev Next

Marysville Elementary School - November 2009

The historic Southeast Portland elementary school was destroyed in a three-alarm blaze in which 500 students and teachers had to be evacuated.

The school reopened in January 2013, after roughly $4.5 million in repairs.

Photo: Youtube / Oregonashman

Prev Next

South Albany High School - April 2015

A four-alarm fire ripped through South Albany High School Wednesday morning, causing more than $1 million in damage.

The fire was in the school's cafeteria and auditorium, cancelling class for South Albany's 1,300 students. Oregon Governor Kate Brown visited the site of the blaze.

Photo: Lebanon Fire District

Prev Next

Chapman Elementary School - August 2013

A teacher arriving early fortunately spotted the orange glow of a growing fire in the Northwest Portland elementary school.

Fire investigators determined the blaze was caused by oily rags left in a trash can.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Prev Next

Apolistic Faith Church - February 2013

A two-alarm fire damaged the church at Southeast 52nd Avenue and Duke Street in February 2013.

The blaze, which started in the attic and presented multiple structural challenges for firefighters, due to the building's sloped roof. It caused roughly $1 million in damage.