Firefighters douse 3 arson fires at grass-covered bluff, suspect in custody

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — 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 “the impact of the area could have been quite significant.”

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.

“This 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,” PF&R said in a press release. “Engine 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.”

In addition to the tall, dry grass covering the entire park, the risk of an out-of-control fire was exacerbated by high heat and breezy conditions, officials said.

Oregon has already seen a number of wildfires this season, with a major risk factor being overgrown, dry grass. For instance, in Salem on Wednesday, a wildfire spread through a field and then onto buildings, prompting Level 3 evacuations.

When it comes to how local agencies are cracking down on overgrown vegetation, city-based fire departments are sometimes limited in the enforcement of individual property owners, but education remains a key tool in fire prevention. In addition, other city departments have avenues of recourse for enforcement.

“PF&R does not have a role in the enforcement of dry grass growth on properties within the city,” explained Rick Graves, a PF&R spokesperson. “There is a mechanism through PP&D [Portland Permitting and Development] for members in the community to report a ‘nuisance’ property which can include overgrown vegetation.”

Portland Permitting and Development has more information about filing a property code violation report.

PF&R said they also spend a lot of time educating people, particularly those living in the Wildland Urban Interface Zone, with information about clearing away vegetation from near their homes and keeping the vegetation levels low to avoid a build-up of fire fuel.

“All we can do is educate and inform and hope it motivates folks to ‘be a bit more tidy,'” Graves said.

The Gresham Fire Department told KOIN 6 News it does not have a fuel reduction program due to not having enough staff. However, they have been partnering with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office to provide wildfire education at events and share wildfire safety flyers in the community and on social media.