Homeless camp fire near Ross Island Bridge under control

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A blaze that reportedly started at a homeless camp near the Ross Island Bridge was brought under control by Portland firefighters after it spread into the grass and vegetation nearby, Portland fire officials said.

The fire on SE McLoughlin Boulevard was spotted around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The fire was described as one that "began in a homeless camp and has now extended into the grasses and vegetation surrounding the site," Portland Fire and Rescue said in a post on X.

Additional resources were called in to help find "alternative access to the site" since it was hard to access from the elevated lanes of McLoughlin, with "excessive amounts of garbage making progress difficult."

Within just a few minutes, Portland Fire said they were able to "make progress along the multi-use path of the Springwater Trail."

Officials said there have been no reported injuries to those living in the camp, so far.

Roughly 30 minutes after the initial post, Portland Fire said the bulk of the fire had been "extinguished" but they were still putting out hot spots from burning piles of trash.