By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- A fire consumed all seven floors of the long-vacant Centennial Mills warehouse at 1362 Northwest Naito Parkway in Portland on August 2, burning for approximately 16 hours before being brought under control.
- Eighty firefighters and multiple aerial hose trucks responded to the blaze that started just before 4 p.m.; crews battled the fire exclusively from outside because the structure was on Portland’s “unsafe building” list.
- Portland Fire and Rescue plans to deploy a drone loaned from the Scapoose Fire District to create a three-dimensional map of the interior structure to assist fire investigation.
- Fire investigators are seeking video footage from anyone in the area around 3:50 p.m., requesting unedited submissions to preserve raw evidence for analysis.
- Demolition plans for the burned structure remain uncertain and would be at the direction of the city building engineer, with costs to be borne by the property owner.
PORTLAND, ORE. — A major fire consuming all interior floors of the Centennial Mills warehouse on Portland’s waterfront resulted in a structure that remains standing despite the intensity of the blaze, prompting investigators to use unmanned aircraft to survey the burned interior.
Tatum Todd | The Oregonian/TNS
The fire at 1362 Northwest Naito Parkway began shortly before 4 p.m. on August 2. At the height of the blaze, eighty firefighters responded to the scene along with multiple aerial hose trucks that deployed thousands of gallons of water onto the fire. Crowds of bystanders observed firefighting operations from the waterfront.
Portland Fire and Rescue spokesperson Rick Graves stated that the seven-story building has long been designated on the bureau’s “unsafe building” list. Consequently, firefighters conducted firefighting operations from outside the structure only, with no interior entry.
Firefighting crews brought the visible flames under control by approximately 5 p.m. on Sunday. Personnel from two aerial hose trucks remained at the location overnight to monitor the structure and respond if hotspots reignited. The fire burned for approximately 16 hours total.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Firefighters have been unable to enter the building to confirm whether any individuals were inside at the time the fire started or at any point during the incident.
Portland Fire and Rescue personnel plan to deploy a drone on loan from the Scapoose Fire District to conduct interior survey operations. The unmanned aircraft will create a three-dimensional map of the burned interior structure to assist investigators in their examination of the damage and fire origin.
Fire investigators are seeking video documentation from persons present in the area around 3:50 p.m. who may have captured footage of the scene prior to firefighter arrival. Investigators request that all video be submitted in original, unedited format without enhancements to preserve raw evidence for detective review. Persons submitting footage will remain anonymous and will only be contacted if follow-up questions are necessary.
The derelict waterfront building has been a prominent Portland landmark for decades and has cycled through multiple redevelopment proposals over the years. Building owner Stuart Lindquist purchased the property for $1.25 million in 2024. The Portland Design Commission approved Lindquist’s redevelopment plan in 2025 to transform the Centennial Mills location into three mid-rise mixed-use buildings containing 272 residential units, retail spaces, and a nightclub.
Demolition decisions for the burned warehouse structure remain uncertain as of August 4. Any demolition would proceed at the direction of the city building engineer, with demolition costs to be paid by the property owner.