Above: Video from the scene.
PORTLAND, Ore. - A 3-alarm fire at the Eastside Foursquare Church at Northeast 97th Avenue and Sandy Boulevard broke out just before 7:30 p.m. Monday, according to a Portland Fire Bureau spokesman.
“Right now the fire is winning,” Lt. Allen Oswalt said when the fire first broke out and crews began fighting the fire.
He said because of the initial thick smoke, commanders on the scene ordered all the fire crews out of the building and off the second floor.
A third alarm was called and firefighters poured water on the structure until the fire was under control. Then crews were sent back inside.
The church runs hotels at the location to support its ministry of helping drug addicts.
Pastor David Walmer said money from the hotels funds a unique program that gives recovering addicts a safe place to live while they get help.
“This property used to be given over to drugs and prostitution, and we’ve been able to clean it up with a lot of help from the police department,” Walmer said. “(It) has become a place now that doesn’t cater to prostitution. It helps to rescue people out of drugs and prostitution.”
And while he’s disappointed that part of his building went up in flames, he’s glad that all the hotel guests and residents got out in time.
“It’s sad to see the building go down, but the work of the church doesn’t stop - because the church is not a building,” he said.
Those guests who were affected by the fire were moved to other rooms.
There were no reports of injuries and traffic on Northeast Sandy Boulevard was rerouted.
About 70 firefighters were called to the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Anita Kissée's 11 p.m. report
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$3,950,000
Courtesy of: Prudential Northwest Properties
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$3,475,000
Courtesy of: Prudential Northwest Properties
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