Portland Fire and Rescue said they put out three intentionally set fires at a bluff in North Portland, with an arson suspect later arrested by police. Firefighters said the vegetation fires were set near the Dog Bowl park Thursday morning in a bluff area that overlooks Swan Island and the Willamette River. The park and the surrounding bluff are covered in dry, tall grass. Fire officials said that had they not intervened, the fire would have been much larger and โthe impact of the area could have been quite significant.โ
Firefighters responded to reports of the fire at 11:16 a.m. When they arrived, they not only saw multiple grass and vegetation fires but also spotted a suspect coming from the area of one of the fires. The engine officer on scene then called the Portland Police Bureau with a description of the suspect. Officers later arrested 41-year-old Joel Eipwon, who is now accused of three counts of first-degree arson.
โThis bluff area has been designated protected property with a high fire danger and injury potential due to the well-known unhoused population, the permanent homes that sit at the top of the ridge, and the high use recreational trails throughout,โ PF&R said in a press release. โEngine 24 was quick in cooling and extinguishing the flames present in each unique location and prevented what could have been a large fire that ran the entire distance of the bluff as this area is currently filled with much fuel composed of these tall dry grasses and other vegetation.โ
