Fourth of July fireworks cause deadly fire in Portland
(JULY 11, 2021) Two people in Portland died in a fire last weekend. Six other people were hurt. The fire was caused by illegal fireworks. The fireworks started a fire in a trash dumpster near an apartment building. The fire burned most of the three-story building.
The two men who died were Robert William Gremillion and Seth Robert Thompson. They were roommates. They worked together developing computer games.
Fireworks are popular for the Fourth of July holiday. However, the city of Portland, and many other places in Oregon, banned them because of the dry conditions.
Portland's Fire Chief Sara Boone said, "This tragedy was preventable."
Sources:
Bernstein, Maxine. “2 Men Who Died in NE Portland Fire on July 4 Are Identified as Arson Investigation Continues.” Oregonlive, 7 July 2021, www.oregonlive.com/crime/2021/07/two-men-who-died-in-ne-portland-fire-on-july-4-are-identified-as-fire-investigators-continue-to-investigate-cause.html. Accessed 10 July 2021.
“Deadly Portland Fire Caused by Fireworks, Officials Say.” AP NEWS, 8 July 2021, apnews.com/article/lifestyle-fires-portland-or-state-wire-c77c6f0da0de20771b63c6fbed8004ca. Accessed 10 July 2021.
Mesh, Aaron. “Fireworks in Dumpster Started Deadly Apartment Blaze.” Willamette Week, 8 July 2021, www.wweek.com/news/city/2021/07/08/fireworks-in-dumpster-started-deadly-apartment-blaze. Accessed 10 July 2021.
The Oregonian. “Investigators Sift through Charred Remains.” Www.youtube.com, 7 July 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjEnoQ3fa2s&t=19s. Accessed 10 July 2021.
Bernstein, Maxine. “2 Men Who Died in NE Portland Fire on July 4 Are Identified as Arson Investigation Continues.” Oregonlive, 7 July 2021, www.oregonlive.com/crime/2021/07/two-men-who-died-in-ne-portland-fire-on-july-4-are-identified-as-fire-investigators-continue-to-investigate-cause.html. Accessed 10 July 2021.
“Deadly Portland Fire Caused by Fireworks, Officials Say.” AP NEWS, 8 July 2021, apnews.com/article/lifestyle-fires-portland-or-state-wire-c77c6f0da0de20771b63c6fbed8004ca. Accessed 10 July 2021.
Mesh, Aaron. “Fireworks in Dumpster Started Deadly Apartment Blaze.” Willamette Week, 8 July 2021, www.wweek.com/news/city/2021/07/08/fireworks-in-dumpster-started-deadly-apartment-blaze. Accessed 10 July 2021.
The Oregonian. “Investigators Sift through Charred Remains.” Www.youtube.com, 7 July 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjEnoQ3fa2s&t=19s. Accessed 10 July 2021.