Asbestos Levels Near Centennial Mills Fire Scene Are Low As Collapse Risk Remains
1550 NW Naito Pkwy
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Summary
- A historic Portland landmark suffered extensive damage Sunday evening after fire tore through the vacant Centennial Mills building near the Fremont Bridge.
- The 116-year-old, 8-story former flour mill had long sat empty and deteriorating along the Willamette River waterfront in the Pearl District.
- Firefighters were unable to enter the structure due to safety hazards, including known holes in the floor and damaged stairways, forcing crews to battle the blaze entirely from outside. Despite those challenges, the fire was brought under control within about two hours of the initial call — though not before flames caused interior floors and portions of the roof to give way.
- No injuries were reported among firefighters or the public. Naito Parkway remains closed near the Fremont Bridge as authorities continue monitoring the site for signs of further structural instability.
- Oregon Health Authority officials say asbestos released by the fire does not pose a major risk to the public, based on debris and air sampling conducted since the blaze.
- The building remains at risk of collapse, and officials are discussing whether to demolish it before that happens. Portland Fire & Rescue returned to the site Thursday to extinguish small flare-ups.
Timeline
Portland Fire & Rescue responded to the site again Thursday morning to extinguish small flare-ups. Crews also planned another search of the building to confirm no one was inside when the fire started.
The Centennial Mills building remains at risk of collapse. Officials are discussing whether to demolish the structure before that happens. If it collapses, authorities would investigate for additional contaminants, including lead.
Toxicologist David Farrer said the public faces minimal risk unless asbestos is disturbed during cleanup. "If you're not inhaling it, then it's not a risk," Farrer said, adding that asbestos does not easily break into inhalable particles unless disturbed.
A toxicologist with the Oregon Health Authority said debris samples collected since Sunday's fire show low levels of asbestos, and air monitoring readings are very low and expected to continue decreasing.
Naito Parkway remains closed near the Fremont Bridge as crews continue to monitor the site.
No injuries have been reported.
Concerns remain about a possible further structural collapse, and a smaller crew remained on scene overnight.
The fire was declared under control by around 6 p.m. Sunday, though interior floors and part of the roof collapsed during the blaze.
Crews fought the blaze entirely from the exterior due to safety concerns, including known holes in the floor and damaged stairways.
The response escalated to a fourth alarm, bringing nearly 100 Portland Fire & Rescue personnel to the scene.
The fire broke out at the historic Centennial Mills building — a 116-year-old, 8-story former flour mill — on the 1300 block of Northwest Naito Parkway near the Fremont Bridge around 3:50 p.m. Sunday.
Portland Fire says the blaze is producing significant brown smoke under pressure. Residents in the area should avoid Naito Parkway and the surrounding blocks. A PIO is en route and a media staging area is being set.
Naito Parkway is fully closed in the area. Embers from the fire have sparked a grass fire next to the warehouse and additional spot fires nearby; brush units have been requested to help with the vegetation fires, and crews are working to keep the fire from spreading to adjacent structures.
Because the structure is unsafe, firefighters are working defensively from the exterior only—no crews are entering the building. Extensive plans are in place to keep personnel safely positioned amid concerns the warehouse could collapse.
Crews are fighting a major fire at a large vacant warehouse on Naito Parkway near the Fremont Bridge. Heavy fire has spread throughout the building, and a fourth-alarm assignment has been requested.
Flames continue to tear through the building, as seen in user footage.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 1550 NW Naito Pkwy.
Portland Fire & Rescue responded to the site again Thursday morning to extinguish small flare-ups. Crews also planned another search of the building to confirm no one was inside when the fire started.
The Centennial Mills building remains at risk of collapse. Officials are discussing whether to demolish the structure before that happens. If it collapses, authorities would investigate for additional contaminants, including lead.
Toxicologist David Farrer said the public faces minimal risk unless asbestos is disturbed during cleanup. "If you're not inhaling it, then it's not a risk," Farrer said, adding that asbestos does not easily break into inhalable particles unless disturbed.
A toxicologist with the Oregon Health Authority said debris samples collected since Sunday's fire show low levels of asbestos, and air monitoring readings are very low and expected to continue decreasing.
Naito Parkway remains closed near the Fremont Bridge as crews continue to monitor the site.
No injuries have been reported.
Concerns remain about a possible further structural collapse, and a smaller crew remained on scene overnight.
The fire was declared under control by around 6 p.m. Sunday, though interior floors and part of the roof collapsed during the blaze.
Crews fought the blaze entirely from the exterior due to safety concerns, including known holes in the floor and damaged stairways.
The response escalated to a fourth alarm, bringing nearly 100 Portland Fire & Rescue personnel to the scene.
The fire broke out at the historic Centennial Mills building — a 116-year-old, 8-story former flour mill — on the 1300 block of Northwest Naito Parkway near the Fremont Bridge around 3:50 p.m. Sunday.
Portland Fire says the blaze is producing significant brown smoke under pressure. Residents in the area should avoid Naito Parkway and the surrounding blocks. A PIO is en route and a media staging area is being set.
Naito Parkway is fully closed in the area. Embers from the fire have sparked a grass fire next to the warehouse and additional spot fires nearby; brush units have been requested to help with the vegetation fires, and crews are working to keep the fire from spreading to adjacent structures.
Because the structure is unsafe, firefighters are working defensively from the exterior only—no crews are entering the building. Extensive plans are in place to keep personnel safely positioned amid concerns the warehouse could collapse.
Crews are fighting a major fire at a large vacant warehouse on Naito Parkway near the Fremont Bridge. Heavy fire has spread throughout the building, and a fourth-alarm assignment has been requested.
Flames continue to tear through the building, as seen in user footage.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 1550 NW Naito Pkwy.
Portland Fire & Rescue responded to the site again Thursday morning to extinguish small flare-ups. Crews also planned another search of the building to confirm no one was inside when the fire started.
The Centennial Mills building remains at risk of collapse. Officials are discussing whether to demolish the structure before that happens. If it collapses, authorities would investigate for additional contaminants, including lead.
Toxicologist David Farrer said the public faces minimal risk unless asbestos is disturbed during cleanup. "If you're not inhaling it, then it's not a risk," Farrer said, adding that asbestos does not easily break into inhalable particles unless disturbed.
A toxicologist with the Oregon Health Authority said debris samples collected since Sunday's fire show low levels of asbestos, and air monitoring readings are very low and expected to continue decreasing.
Naito Parkway remains closed near the Fremont Bridge as crews continue to monitor the site.
No injuries have been reported.
Concerns remain about a possible further structural collapse, and a smaller crew remained on scene overnight.
The fire was declared under control by around 6 p.m. Sunday, though interior floors and part of the roof collapsed during the blaze.
Crews fought the blaze entirely from the exterior due to safety concerns, including known holes in the floor and damaged stairways.
The response escalated to a fourth alarm, bringing nearly 100 Portland Fire & Rescue personnel to the scene.
The fire broke out at the historic Centennial Mills building — a 116-year-old, 8-story former flour mill — on the 1300 block of Northwest Naito Parkway near the Fremont Bridge around 3:50 p.m. Sunday.
Portland Fire says the blaze is producing significant brown smoke under pressure. Residents in the area should avoid Naito Parkway and the surrounding blocks. A PIO is en route and a media staging area is being set.
Naito Parkway is fully closed in the area. Embers from the fire have sparked a grass fire next to the warehouse and additional spot fires nearby; brush units have been requested to help with the vegetation fires, and crews are working to keep the fire from spreading to adjacent structures.
Because the structure is unsafe, firefighters are working defensively from the exterior only—no crews are entering the building. Extensive plans are in place to keep personnel safely positioned amid concerns the warehouse could collapse.
Crews are fighting a major fire at a large vacant warehouse on Naito Parkway near the Fremont Bridge. Heavy fire has spread throughout the building, and a fourth-alarm assignment has been requested.
Flames continue to tear through the building, as seen in user footage.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 1550 NW Naito Pkwy.
Portland Fire & Rescue responded to the site again Thursday morning to extinguish small flare-ups. Crews also planned another search of the building to confirm no one was inside when the fire started.
The Centennial Mills building remains at risk of collapse. Officials are discussing whether to demolish the structure before that happens. If it collapses, authorities would investigate for additional contaminants, including lead.
Toxicologist David Farrer said the public faces minimal risk unless asbestos is disturbed during cleanup. "If you're not inhaling it, then it's not a risk," Farrer said, adding that asbestos does not easily break into inhalable particles unless disturbed.
A toxicologist with the Oregon Health Authority said debris samples collected since Sunday's fire show low levels of asbestos, and air monitoring readings are very low and expected to continue decreasing.
Naito Parkway remains closed near the Fremont Bridge as crews continue to monitor the site.
No injuries have been reported.
Concerns remain about a possible further structural collapse, and a smaller crew remained on scene overnight.
The fire was declared under control by around 6 p.m. Sunday, though interior floors and part of the roof collapsed during the blaze.
Crews fought the blaze entirely from the exterior due to safety concerns, including known holes in the floor and damaged stairways.
The response escalated to a fourth alarm, bringing nearly 100 Portland Fire & Rescue personnel to the scene.
The fire broke out at the historic Centennial Mills building — a 116-year-old, 8-story former flour mill — on the 1300 block of Northwest Naito Parkway near the Fremont Bridge around 3:50 p.m. Sunday.
Portland Fire says the blaze is producing significant brown smoke under pressure. Residents in the area should avoid Naito Parkway and the surrounding blocks. A PIO is en route and a media staging area is being set.
Naito Parkway is fully closed in the area. Embers from the fire have sparked a grass fire next to the warehouse and additional spot fires nearby; brush units have been requested to help with the vegetation fires, and crews are working to keep the fire from spreading to adjacent structures.
Because the structure is unsafe, firefighters are working defensively from the exterior only—no crews are entering the building. Extensive plans are in place to keep personnel safely positioned amid concerns the warehouse could collapse.
Crews are fighting a major fire at a large vacant warehouse on Naito Parkway near the Fremont Bridge. Heavy fire has spread throughout the building, and a fourth-alarm assignment has been requested.
Flames continue to tear through the building, as seen in user footage.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 1550 NW Naito Pkwy.
Portland Fire & Rescue responded to the site again Thursday morning to extinguish small flare-ups. Crews also planned another search of the building to confirm no one was inside when the fire started.
The Centennial Mills building remains at risk of collapse. Officials are discussing whether to demolish the structure before that happens. If it collapses, authorities would investigate for additional contaminants, including lead.
Toxicologist David Farrer said the public faces minimal risk unless asbestos is disturbed during cleanup. "If you're not inhaling it, then it's not a risk," Farrer said, adding that asbestos does not easily break into inhalable particles unless disturbed.
A toxicologist with the Oregon Health Authority said debris samples collected since Sunday's fire show low levels of asbestos, and air monitoring readings are very low and expected to continue decreasing.
Naito Parkway remains closed near the Fremont Bridge as crews continue to monitor the site.
No injuries have been reported.
Concerns remain about a possible further structural collapse, and a smaller crew remained on scene overnight.
The fire was declared under control by around 6 p.m. Sunday, though interior floors and part of the roof collapsed during the blaze.
Crews fought the blaze entirely from the exterior due to safety concerns, including known holes in the floor and damaged stairways.
The response escalated to a fourth alarm, bringing nearly 100 Portland Fire & Rescue personnel to the scene.
The fire broke out at the historic Centennial Mills building — a 116-year-old, 8-story former flour mill — on the 1300 block of Northwest Naito Parkway near the Fremont Bridge around 3:50 p.m. Sunday.
Portland Fire says the blaze is producing significant brown smoke under pressure. Residents in the area should avoid Naito Parkway and the surrounding blocks. A PIO is en route and a media staging area is being set.
Naito Parkway is fully closed in the area. Embers from the fire have sparked a grass fire next to the warehouse and additional spot fires nearby; brush units have been requested to help with the vegetation fires, and crews are working to keep the fire from spreading to adjacent structures.
Because the structure is unsafe, firefighters are working defensively from the exterior only—no crews are entering the building. Extensive plans are in place to keep personnel safely positioned amid concerns the warehouse could collapse.
Crews are fighting a major fire at a large vacant warehouse on Naito Parkway near the Fremont Bridge. Heavy fire has spread throughout the building, and a fourth-alarm assignment has been requested.
Flames continue to tear through the building, as seen in user footage.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 1550 NW Naito Pkwy.
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Comments30
Is crazy.. I go past this building everyday
I’m in Seattle it’s burning in Spokane too!
Muchas bendiciones para todos los bomberos
Oh man, look at the crowd of lookie loos. Why do so many people want to stand around so close to these fires? That smoke is not good for your health. I mean, an old vacant building, I can’t even imagine what’s collectively burning in it, yucky... maybe a little lead here and a little meth there… y’all are too close. 🙏
Is crazy.. I go past this building everyday
I’m in Seattle it’s burning in Spokane too!
Muchas bendiciones para todos los bomberos
Oh man, look at the crowd of lookie loos. Why do so many people want to stand around so close to these fires? That smoke is not good for your health. I mean, an old vacant building, I can’t even imagine what’s collectively burning in it, yucky... maybe a little lead here and a little meth there… y’all are too close. 🙏
Is crazy.. I go past this building everyday
I’m in Seattle it’s burning in Spokane too!
Muchas bendiciones para todos los bomberos
Oh man, look at the crowd of lookie loos. Why do so many people want to stand around so close to these fires? That smoke is not good for your health. I mean, an old vacant building, I can’t even imagine what’s collectively burning in it, yucky... maybe a little lead here and a little meth there… y’all are too close. 🙏
Is crazy.. I go past this building everyday
I’m in Seattle it’s burning in Spokane too!
Muchas bendiciones para todos los bomberos
Oh man, look at the crowd of lookie loos. Why do so many people want to stand around so close to these fires? That smoke is not good for your health. I mean, an old vacant building, I can’t even imagine what’s collectively burning in it, yucky... maybe a little lead here and a little meth there… y’all are too close. 🙏
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Is crazy.. I go past this building everyday
I’m in Seattle it’s burning in Spokane too!
Muchas bendiciones para todos los bomberos
Oh man, look at the crowd of lookie loos. Why do so many people want to stand around so close to these fires? That smoke is not good for your health. I mean, an old vacant building, I can’t even imagine what’s collectively burning in it, yucky... maybe a little lead here and a little meth there… y’all are too close. 🙏