DATA REQUEST
Reported below is data requested regarding homeless-related fires. The bulleted information
represents a summary of the methodology and limitations of the reported numbers. Please note
the information below is a summary of data derived from fire reports, some which may not be
finalized. Data could change as new information is discovered.


Incidents reported below were identified through an option in the PF&R Incident System
(data entry reporting module). Officers completing incident reports as of February 8th,
2016 are able to select an option that flags the incident as relating to a homeless or
transient person.
o There is no reliable way to identify incidents associated with homeless/transient
persons prior to February 8th, 2016.



Identification of a homeless/transient related incident not exclusively indicative of a
“homeless camp”.



Incidents in which the reported situation found was categorized as ‘Fire/Explosion’ by
NFIRS classification system were included in the report below.
o “The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) is a reporting standard
that fire departments use to uniformly report on the full range of their activities,
from fire to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to equipment involved in the
response.” (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/nfirs/).
o Illegal burns and controlled burns are not classified as ‘Fire/Explosion’. NFIRS
considers them a service call and good intent call, respectively.

reports the number and percent of fires occurring in each of the months, for the time
period of February 8th – April 26th, 2016. The average number of days between fires will help to
standardize the numbers since February represents only the last 22 days of the month and April
the first 26.
Table 1

Table 1. Number and percent of fires by month and average number of days between fires.

Month
February
March
April
Total

Number
15
12
11
38

Percent
39.5
31.6
29.0
100.0

Average Number of
Days Between Fires
1.5
2.6
2.4
2.1

Table 2 represents the number of fires occurring in each station’s Fire Management Area (FMA).

Portland
Fire & Rescue has 30 active fire stations, covering 31 FMA’s with more than 160 miles. A map of the
FMAs can be found at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fire/article/104015.

Kerry A. Anderson, Statistician
Data Pulled 05/02/2016

 Table 2. Number and percent of fires by FMA.

Station's Fire Management Area
1
21
3
4
13
7
8
9
26
29
11
18
25
Total

Number
9
7
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1

Percent
23.7
18.4
7.9
7.9
7.9
5.3
5.3
5.3
5.3
5.3
2.6
2.6
2.6

38

100.0

Of the 38 reported fires, 23 fires had information regarding the monetary value and loss of property
(Table 3). Each fire can have up to four categories of property being described. Properties can include
any number of categories, or no categories. A total of 28 records were found to create the values listed
below.
Table 3. Category of property, and estimated value, lost, and saved.

Description
BUILDING
CONTENTS
MOBILE PROPERTY AND CONTENTS
OTHER
Total

Number of
Records
Contributing
4
5
3
16
28

Estimated
Value ($)
4,683,030
2,501,600
6,000
3,450
7,194,080

Estimated
Saved ($)
4,680,530
2,501,200
0
25
7,181,755

Estimated
Loss ($)
2,500
400
6,000
3,425
12,325

As discussed above, the initial situation found (from NFIRS) was used to determine the subclass of fires
(Table 4). NFIRS also provides a hierarchy of property type. These categories are summarized in Table 5.

Kerry A. Anderson, Statistician
Data Pulled 05/02/2016

 Table 4. Number and percent of initial situation found and sub-class for fires.

Initial Situation Found Sub-Class
MOBILE PROPERTY (VEHICLE) FIRE
NATURAL VEGETATION FIRE

OUTSIDE RUBBISH FIRE
SPECIAL OUTSIDE FIRE
STRUCTURE FIRE

NFIRS Classifications
Initial Situation Found
PASSENGER VEHICLE FIRE
BRUSH, OR BRUSH AND GRASS MIXTURE FIRE
GRASS FIRE
VEGETATION FIRE, OTHER
DUMPSTER OR OTHER OUTSIDE TRASH RECEPTACLE FIRE
OUTSIDE RUBBISH, TRASH OR WASTE FIRE
OUTSIDE FIRE, OTHER (MAY HAVE VALUE AND LOSS).
BUILDING FIRE
CHIMNEY OR FLUE FIRE, CONFINED TO CHIMNEY OR FLUE
STRUCTURE FIRE, OTHER

Number
3
2
1
2
1
12
13
2
1
1

Percent
7.9
5.3
2.6
5.3
2.6
31.6
34.2
5.3
2.6
2.6

38

100.0

Total
Table 5. Number and percent of property description and sub-class for fires.

Main Class of Property Description
ASSEMBLY PROPERTY
BASIC INDUSTRY, UTILITY, DEFENSE, AGRICULTURE
MERCANTILE, BUSINESS PROPERTY
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
SPECIAL PROPERTY

STORAGE PROPERTY

Sub-Class of Property Description
FIXED USE AMUSEMENT, RECREATION PLACES
FORESTS, HUNTING, FISHING
HOUSEHOLD GOODS SALES, REPAIRS
RECREATION, HOBBY, HOME REPAIR , PERSONAL SVCES
APARTMENTS, TENEMENTS, FLATS
ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY DWELLING
OUTDOOR PROPERTIES
ROAD, PARKING PROPERTY
SPECIAL PROPERTIES, UNCLASSIFIED
WATER AREAS
VEHICLE STORAGE
Total

Kerry A. Anderson, Statistician
Data Pulled 05/02/2016

Number
1
1
1
1
2
2
5
17
6
1
1
38

Percent
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
5.3
5.3
13.2
44.7
15.8
2.6
2.6
100.0

 The following table reports the cause of fire. I chose to use the method employed by the Oregon Office of the State Fire Marshal’s office (and
fire departments nationwide) to classify each fire with a cause. This method is traditionally used to discuss structure fires but we lend this
method to non-structure fires when others are not available. The method is a Cause of Fire Hierarchy, used by NFIRS and developed in
coordination with FEMA and the NFPA. An explanation of the hierarchy can be found at
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/nfirs/nfirs_data_analysis_guidelines_issues.pdf.
Reading the table from left to right, causes range from most general to the most specific.
Most General Cause
Equipment
Firesetting
Flame, Heat

Unknown

NFIRS Cause of Fire Hierarchy
Cause
Equipment Misoperation, Failure
Heating
Intentional
Open Flame
Other Heat
Smoking
Other Unintentional, Careless
Unknown
Total

Kerry A. Anderson, Statistician
Data Pulled 05/02/2016

Most Specific Cause
Equipment Failure, Malfunction
Heating
Intentional
Matches, Candles
Other Hot Object
Other Open Flame, Spark
Smoking
Heat Source or Product Misuse
Trash, Rubbish
Unknown

Number
1
1
9
2
1
7
3
1
2
11
38