Inner Southeast vacant home explodes — “arson”

A.T.F. IS ON THE CASE

By David F. Ashton

The Bee, Nov 4, 2009

David F. Ashton / THE BEE

The explosion at this vacant Inner Southeast Portland house was so great, it blew the garage and entry doors right off their hinges.

Neighbors along the 3300 block of S.E. Sherman Street in the Richmond neighborhood, just north of Creston-Kenilworth, were shaken from their slumber by a 4:40 am explosion on Friday, September 25th.

The first crew from Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) rolled up to the scene just four minutes after the alarm was sounded, and found smoke billowing and fire blazing from the front windows and doors, according to PF&R spokesman Lt. Damon Simmons.

“Firefighters saw extensive smoke and fire pouring out of the residence,” Simmons said. “The firefighters also noted damage that was consistent with an explosion.”

Even though the house, at 3311 S.E. Sherman Street, is on a “flag lot” — set back from the street — neighbors many houses distant said they were rocked by the explosion. “It woke me up from a deep sleep,” said Debbie Meyers. “I thought the front of my house had been blown off.”

Simmons said firefighters quickly determined that the house was vacant, and extinguished the blaze in about fifteen minutes. No one was injured.

“This is a joint investigation with Portland Fire and federal A.T.F. investigators,” Simmons reported. “The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms is an invaluable resource when investigating this type of incident.”

At first, officials remained mum about the fiery explosion. Later, Simmons said that investigators had determined that the fire was intentionally set. “Investigators state that this will be further investigated as a case of First Degree Arson.”

Following up on the story just before this edition of THE BEE went to press, the Fire Bureau’s Lt. Allen Oswalt told us, “No cause for the explosion or fire, or point of origin is yet available at this time. The Investigations Office tells me, ‘This is an active case that is currently being investigated; no additional information is being released at this time’.”

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