Workers escape injury from downtown blaze

Fire breaks out on roof of vacant building being renovated in downtown Portland

Four workers escaped injury Sunday morning when a fire broke out on the roof of a building they were renovating in downtown Portland.

According to Portland Fire & Rescue, the two-alarm fire in the vacant building at Southwest 10 and Alder was contained by 9:45 a.m. on Oct. 15. One worker was treated on the scene for an injury.

Investigators have determined the fire was unintentionally started by workers installing roofing materials. According to PF&R, the roofers were using a propane torch to dry the roof deck so that they could apply a solvent based primer. The flame came into contact with some primer that had already been applied, igniting it. The fire then spread a large stack of 4' x 8' rigid foam insulation, which is very flammable.

A total of six fire extinguishers were used prior to PF&R's arrival, but the fire was too large for them.

The injury occurred when one of the workers hand, which was covered in the primer, came into contact with the flame. His 2nd degree burns were evaluated on-scene, and he declined transport to a hospital for further treatment.

The Portland Streetcar A-Loop and NS Line were blocked by emergency vehicles responding to the fire.

KOIN 6 News is a news partner of the Portland Tribune.