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A scrapyard tire fire at Northeast 75th Avenue and Killingsworth Street is sending plumes of black, carbon monoxide and cyanide-laden smoke into Northeast Portland.
Video from Chopper 2 of the fire raging at Northwest Motors in Portland. The surrounding neighborhood has been evacuated. #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/cjwIUTWHnb
— Evan Bell (@evanbellKATU) March 12, 2018
The fire, which according to WW's news partner KATU News started around 9 am, has quickly grown to consume nearby homes and buildings and trigger evacuations.
Portland Fire and Rescue has so far evacuated residences located on Northeast 72nd and 75th Avenue between Killingsworth and Alberta. And Portland Public Schools is relocating roughly 115 young students from Sacajawea Head Start on Northeast 74th.
Attached is a map of the area. https://t.co/ZlADLKsm73
— Portland Fire&Rescue (@PDXFire) March 12, 2018
Homes burning, school evacuated as massive fire burns at NE Portland scrap yard #LiveonK2https://t.co/hP24NUXfSQ pic.twitter.com/trlDDGfsAw
— KATU News (@KATUNews) March 12, 2018
Reports from the area show massive amounts of toxic smoke entering the air—which Oregon Public Health Authority warns is toxic to inhale. Residents in a one mile radius of the fire are advised to stay indoors, shut windows and turn off all HVAC systems.
This is the current map of the 1 mile shelter in place zone. NOTE: red small circle in the very middle is the evacuation zone and those homes need to evacuate. #PDXFire #alert pic.twitter.com/UZX3YS8F1v
— Portland Fire&Rescue (@PDXFire) March 12, 2018
.@PDXFire Just a reminder all, smoke from burning tires include toxic chemicals of synthetic rubber compounds. Smoke may contain cyanide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and other dangerous chemicals. Extinguishing these fires is difficult. @MultCoHealth #Portland
— OR Public Health (@ORPublicHealth) March 12, 2018
At least one six-plex and one duplex have been burned so far, though it is still unclear how many homes have been damaged.
Portland Fire and Rescue is working to save a dog rescue shelter blocks from where the fire started, and crews guess 16 cats have died in the burned six-plex.
.@PDXFire says a duplex and a six-plex have been burned in the fire, unclear how many other homes may be lost or damaged by the smoke and flames. #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/l7kQd9Xz98
— Reed Andrews (@ReedKATU) March 12, 2018
Officials from Portland International Aiport tell KATU that while the smoke is visible, the fire is not yet impacting operations.
