Smoke bomb scare empties Mt. Scott-Arleta’s McDonalds restaurant

Take a look, and find out why firefighters loathe the July 4th Holiday …

Across the street from the Lents neighborhood, firefighters are called to this fast food restaurant, after the building fills with acrid smoke.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Copious billows of acrid smoke issuing from the McDonald’s restaurant along SE 82nd Avenue of Roses at Ellis street and in the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood triggered the “Commercial Fire” dispatch of seven Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) units.

First to arrive at 9:10 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28 – three minutes after being dispatched – were the Engine Company and Rescue rig from Lents Fire Station 11.

Firefighters quickly discover the source of the smoke and put it out.

The crews hit the ground ready to start putting out a fire, pulling their onboard water supply hooked up to the “booster” hose line on “Rescue 11” – it’s a smaller engine called a “brush rig” – but then, it turned out there was actually no fire.

“We quickly learned that the smoke wasn’t due to a fire in the kitchen; the smoke was coming from the men’s restroom,” a firefighter told East Portland News.

Ventilation fans were set up to blow the remaining smoke out of the building, so the business could reopen.

The PF&R crews stands by while the restaurant airs out.

“Someone lit off a smoke bomb in the men’s room; we found the casing,” the firefighter reported. “It’s a sign that the 4th of July is just around the corner,” he added with a sigh and shrug.

And bear in mind, it is illegal for ANY private fireworks – even sparklers – to be used in the City of Portland. Find a professional fireworks display if you want fireworks this Fourth.

© 2023 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™

 

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