Portland neighborhood hit by string of trash fires | kgw.com

Feb 20, 2025

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PORTLAND, Ore. — Community members in St. Johns are concerned after a string of fires in their neighborhood have caused them to believe they may all be connected.

As of Wednesday, Portland Fire & Rescue’s Fire Investigation Unit, a team made of both fire and police investigators, is now investigating the fires.

Portland Fire and Rescue (PF&R) confirmed in a report that there were four trash fires on Jan. 14 in the area.

The report states that three were trash can fires on North Lombard St., with the fourth being a dumpster fire on North Caitlin Avenue. Only the trash cans were damaged in these instances.

“None of us want to wake up one morning hearing that a house burned down because the garbage cans caught the house on fire," said James Kister, a neighbor who lives one housing unit down from where one of the cans caught on fire.

Portland Police confirmed that there was also a fire set to a waste can on Jan. 26 on North Smith Street.

On Jan. 14, surveillance footage shows a person walking up to a waste can, opening the top, and then, walking away. Soon after, the blaze erupts. That individual then goes and looks into other cans before walking out of view.

“You can see him looking back over his shoulder and looking at his work as the cans go up in fire as he walks away," said Kister.

Portland Police said it is too early to determine whether these cases are all connected, but it’s a possibility they are considering.

However, community members think it’s all connected.

“It makes me feel afraid. Every time I put my cans out now, I’m like, 'Is he going to set my cans on fire?'” Kister said.

Most recently, St. Johns All Nations Church of God in Christ has been targeted as well, although instead of trash or recycling bins being lit on fire, their front doors were.

“Parked his bike right here, took the gas can off, and then, he went off out of the camera, and then about two minutes later, I saw a flash on the inside," said Pastor Clifford Chappell.

Fortunately, Pastor Chappell said the doors were fire resistant, due to vandalism years ago.

PF&R stated the church fire is still open and under investigation.