Inner Southeast vacant home explodes — “arson”

A.T.F. IS ON THE CASE

By David F. Ashton

The Bee, Nov 4, 2009

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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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