Fire at Northeast Portland’s historic Roseway Theater was electrical, investigators say
By OPB staff (OPB)
Aug. 23, 2022 5:52 p.m.
A fire that heavily damaged a historic Northeast Portland theater earlier this month was found to be electrical in nature, according to Portland Fire & Rescue.
Fencing stands in front of the historic Roseway Theater on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. The 97-year-old Northeast Portland landmark suffered heavy damage from a fire earlier in the month. Investigators have ruled the fire accidental and believe the cause was electrical.
Courtney Sherwood / OPB
Portland's historic Roseway Theater was immersed in flames and smoke Saturday morning on Aug. 6, 2022 in Portland, Ore..
Courtesy Portland Fire & Rescue / OPB
Firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue battle flames at the historic Roseway Theater which suffered heavy damage from a fire on Aug. 6, 2022.
Courtesy of Portland Fire & Rescue
Firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue battle flames at the historic Roseway Theater which suffered heavy damage from a fire on Aug. 6, 2022.
Courtesy of Portland Fire & Rescue
Firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue battle flames at the historic Roseway Theater which suffered heavy damage from a fire on Aug. 6, 2022.
Courtesy of Portland Fire & Rescue
Fencing stands alongside the historic Roseway Theater on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. The 97-year-old Northeast Portland landmark suffered heavy damage from a fire earlier in the month. Investigators have ruled the fire accidental and believe the cause was electrical.
Courtney Sherwood / OPB
Fencing stands in front of the historic Roseway Theater on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. The 97-year-old Northeast Portland landmark suffered heavy damage from a fire earlier in the month. Investigators have ruled the fire accidental and believe the cause was electrical.
The fire at the Roseway Theater on Sandy Boulevard began in the early morning hours of Aug. 6, quickly growing into a three-alarm fire and destroying much of the building. Firefighters used aerial ladder trucks to pour water into the building in an effort to extinguish the fire and to keep it from spreading to adjoining businesses.
Investigators were finally able to safely enter the building Monday, after removing overhead debris with a crane. They ruled out arson and determined the fire was accidental.
The Roseway Theater was built in 1924 during the silent film era, operating continuously since 1925 until the recent fire.
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