A warrant has been issued for a woman who is accused of setting a bluff ablaze near the University of Portland, according to court records.
Adrianne Esther Clark, 38, was charged with four counts of reckless burning after Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a steep hillside near North Harvard Street and Willamette Boulevard around 10:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21.
Fire crews say they found four separate fires — ranging in size from 10 feet by 10 feet — to 100 feet by 300 feet, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Clark told fire investigator McGraw she set the fires because "nobody is paying attention to me," court docs report. A witness reportedly saw the fires being started after getting off a bus, called 911, and later identified Clark to police.
Fire crews said the blaze creeped toward a university parking lot, but it was extinguished before it could damage any cars or buildings.
In the past year, Clark has been charged with second-degree theft, resisting arrest, harassment, fourth-degree assault, possession of meth and second-degree criminal trespassing. Most of the charges were later dropped by prosecutors. Clark, a long-time resident, is homeless.
"Many weeks of dry weather have made for dangerous fire conditions in our forested and brush areas," noted Lt. Rich Chatman with Portland Fire. "Recent rainfall has NOT significantly changed the issue. The moisture content in the vegetation is still low."
