4-alarm fire destroys event production business in N. Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) - Crews responded to a massive fire at a business in the Humboldt neighborhood early Wednesday morning.

At about 6:30 a.m., Portland Fire & Rescue crews were called to a commercial fire at Royce’s Prop Shop Event Production and Decor, located at 5406 North Albina Avenue. First crews at the scene found a one-story concrete building with heavy smoke pushing out under a rollup door.

PF&R says heavy fire was found inside the building and flames could be seen coming through the roof. There is concern that the fire could spread to a nearby building.

A second alarm was called at about 6:50 a.m. to bring in additional resources and crews were moved outside to safely extinguish the fire. By 7:20 a.m., a third alarm was called and later updated to a fourth alarm.

There were some explosions reported, possibly because the building may hold propane and/or helium.

Just after 7:30 a.m., PF&R reported fire conditions were improving. PF&R says crews will continue to apply water to the building throughout the day.

FOX 12 spoke with the owner of Royce Prop Shop, Royce Mason, who said it is very sad to see his life’s work in rubble now but he is hopeful.

“We’ve been in business for 30 years. We have such wonderful clients. They’ve been calling me all morning and it’s just really sad,” Mason said. “All of my friends have been checking in and you know, we’ll just keep going and keep going forward and take care of all of the families we support. We have a lot of good people who work here and it’ll be ok. We have 20 people who work here. 20 families that we support.”

FOX 12 also spoke with the principal of Rosemary Anderson High School, which shares a wall with the building. They say some glass was shattered but so far they don’t know of any other damage. School will be canceled Wednesday but no one was inside at the time and no one had to evacuate.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

Investigators will canvass the neighborhood looking for people and businesses with security cameras that may have captured when beginning of the fire to help them figure out how it started.