An unidentified individual ignited a fire that engulfed a total of 15 police cars at a training facility in northeastern Portland, Oregon, in the early hours of Thursday morning. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.
Witnesses captured photographs of the massive flames consuming the vehicles, sending a thick cloud of grey smoke into the air.
Subsequent images taken after the fire was put out revealed the extent of the damage, with several cruisers severely burned. One vehicle had a significant hole melted through its hood and a collapsed front light. Another car was partially gutted, exposing its internal frame. Additionally, a large propane tank was seen next to two burning cars in one of the images.
According to a statement from the Portland Police Bureau, every vehicle involved in the incident was either significantly damaged or completely destroyed. Police officers, in conjunction with Portland fire officials, arrived at the scene at 1:55 a.m. local time on Thursday. The burning vehicles were discovered in a secured area at the Portland Police Training Division, a sprawling complex near Portland International Airport, approximately 10 miles from downtown Portland. Fortunately, the main building remained unscathed.
Authorities Investigate Suspected Arson at Portland Training Facility
A fire investigations unit has launched a probe into the recent incident at a training facility in Portland. The police bureau is treating the case as a suspected arson, indicating that the vehicles were intentionally set on fire. The unit conducting the investigation consists of personnel from Portland Fire and Rescue along with a detective from the Portland Police Bureau.
No suspects have been identified in connection with the fires. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to reach out to the police bureau or the fire investigations unit's tip line.
Notably, this is not the first suspected arson case involving government property in Portland this year. In January, a series of fires damaged city-owned equipment, including a forklift, an excavator, and a bulldozer. Police launched an arson investigation at that time, stating that the evidence suggested the fires were deliberately set.
The location of the January fires is approximately 20 minutes away from the recent incident at the police training facility. It remains unclear if anyone has been linked to the equipment fires, and there is no apparent connection between those incidents and the latest one. CBS News reached out to the Portland Police Bureau for comment but has not received an immediate response.
