Photo: Portland Fire & Rescue
A contractor is arriving today to begin preparing for demolition of the Centennial Mills site on Northwest Naito Parkway, where a four-alarm fire on Aug. 2 sparked major health and safety risks to the surrounding community.
The Eugene-based contractor, Staton Companies, is in close contact with City of Portland officials. The contractor is directed to follow all safety requirements to minimize health and safety impacts to people and property as the demolition proceeds.
This is not a typical demolition. Because the building is at risk of collapse, the work requires specialized engineering, equipment, and demolition expertise to protect workers, adjacent infrastructure, the railroad, and the surrounding community. While everyone involved is committed to moving as quickly as possible, these factors require careful planning and coordination before demolition can safely begin.
Safety is the top priority, as the building remains a collapse hazard. Portland Fire & Rescue worked with an engineer to establish a safety perimeter in the event of a building collapse – a minimum of 1.5 times the building height – to protect the public.
Portland Fire & Rescue is monitoring the perimeter and may adjust it as the situation develops. People have been observed crossing the caution tape and entering the closure area around Centennial Mills. You may hear a safety message from the Portland Fire & Rescue or Portland Police Bureau over a loudspeaker when they observe people in the closure area.
For your safety, heed the warnings, respect the barriers, and stay out of the collapse zone.
The City discourages anyone, including news media, content creators and the general public, from flying drones over the Centennial Mills building. The building and its surroundings are currently an active crime scene, and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and Oregon laws may make it illegal to fly drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles over the site.
Source: City of Portland