Arson suspected after 4 electric Amazon delivery vans torched at SW Portland EV shop

Flames climbing into the tree canopy near a southwest Portland dealership turned out to be a fire involving four Amazon Prime electric delivery vans, prompting a larger fire response and an arson investigation.

The fire was reported shortly before 2:30 a.m. by the Rivian Electric Vehicle Service Center along Southwest 1st Avenue, just south of the I-405 overpass. Multiple callers dialed 911, reporting trees on fire with one of the callers possibly identifying a van on fire.

Firefighters arrived to find “a significant amount of fire” that had spread into the canopy and involved multiple vehicles, according to Portland Fire and Rescue spokesperson Rick Graves.

With at least four vans burning—and an initial belief that five were involved—crews upgraded the response and added four more engines, a squad, two trucks and two chiefs.

The nature of the fire proved challenging for firefighters working to contain the blaze.

Read more: KATU