Portland Fire Says They Arrested Serial Arsonist

Portland Fire & Rescue says that they have arrested a serial arsonist. They say that David Stewart is believed to have started four fires on Wednesday morning.

Two fires were set at 4400 Northeast Broadway 0 one at 7:20 and one at 7:50. Then two others were set at the Grocery Outlet at 4420 Northeast Hancock around 9:30.

The last fire was set inside the front doors of the occupied store.

A fire investigator was in the area and noticed Stewart and arrested him.

Bystanders at the grocery store extinguished the fire inside the store with a portable extinguisher prior to fire crews arrival. Bystanders also detained the suspect until PF&R's Fire Investigator was able to take the suspect into custody.

PF&R's Arson Dog, Zeus, was able to positively identify that flammable liquids were used to start the fires.

No one was injured in any of the four fires listed. More information will be released as it becomes available: this is an ongoing investigation.

Photo courtesy Multnomah County Sheriff's Office