Multnomah County is currently assessing the extent of the damage caused by a two-alarm fire at the Bridge Shop on the east side of the Hawthorne Bridge. The building sustained significant damage from smoke, fire and water after it caught fire shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday night.
The next 48 hours will be dedicated to evaluating the full scope of that damage — cost estimates are unclear.
“We are currently assessing the damage to inventory within the building and to the building, which will take some time,” said Margi Bradway, the director of the County’s Department of Community Services, which includes services for County bridges.
“Our priority is to ensure that operations continue. The Hawthorne Bridge and all other movable bridges are currently operational.”
The Bridge Shop is the maintenance and operations center for the County’s six Willamette River bridges and 22 smaller bridges.
While some essential and key staff are on site to aid with clean-up operations, many employees have been directed to work from home or other County buildings as clean-up is underway.
The building holds historical significance, as parts of the building are believed to be over 100 years old, including a portion that used to serve as a trolley barn.
Engineers who have overseen some of the largest County infrastructure projects have operated out of the building during that time period.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but is believed to have started when equipment on a water tanker parked in a garage bay malfunctioned and became engulfed. The maintenance area of the building where many Department of Community Services transportation vehicles are parked sustained substantial damage.
The County is grateful to Portland Fire, Bureau of Emergency Communication and Portland Police — and particularly the fire crews stationed on the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge — for their swift response to the fire upon hearing an explosion. A passerby also alerted fire crews at the station after they saw smoke billowing from the building. A bridge operator also noticed and called 9-1-1. The railroad also suspended operations to allow open roadway access to the fire location.
Both the Portland Bureau of Transportation and Oregon Department of Transportation have also reached out to offer assistance.
Source: Multnomah County