PORTLAND, Ore. — City Councilor Candace Avalos has raised serious concerns about how Portland law enforcement is handling the investigation into a fire that damaged her home early Sunday morning. Avalos says she worries police may be drawing premature conclusions before the investigation is complete.
“I am concerned that police leadership may be jumping to conclusions before the investigation is complete,” Avalos said in a statement emailed to OPB on Friday.
The Fire and Initial Findings
Avalos awoke to find flames engulfing her car, carport, and part of her Mill Park residence in the early hours of Sunday. Fire crews quickly responded, preventing the blaze from spreading to the entire structure.
Also Read
More than 24 hours later, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) and Portland Fire & Rescue reported that investigators had found no evidence suggesting Avalos was targeted. According to their statement, the fire appeared to have started in a storage shed near the home, and no accelerants or incendiary devices were found at the scene.
However, Avalos believes it’s too soon to dismiss the possibility of intentional targeting—especially after a threatening email was sent to her office just four days before the incident.
Threatening Email Raises Alarm
The email, dated October 22, was sent to Sofia Diffee, a policy advisor in Avalos’ office, and obtained by OPB. The message read:
“Hope the entire state burns and your house is the first one to go.”
It was signed “Most Normal American Citizens,” and referenced Resolution 37719, a council measure co-authored by Avalos and adopted on October 15, denouncing the use of federal law enforcement officers in Portland.
Avalos said this correspondence demonstrates that the case demands a thorough and open-minded investigation. “I want to make it clear that I do not know, nor am I assuming, that the fire that destroyed my car and damaged my home was politically motivated or targeted at me,” Avalos told OPB. “What I do know is that there is evidence to suggest multiple possibilities.”
She added that she has asked police leadership to refrain from speculation until all the facts are known.
Police Stand by Their Assessment
In response, PPB spokesperson Mike Benner reaffirmed the bureau’s position, saying the department stands by its initial findings and recognizes the “emotional and personal toll” the incident has had on Avalos. Investigators maintain that the evidence so far points to an accidental or non-targeted cause, though the case remains open.
Political Context and Broader Concerns
Avalos, one of Portland’s newly elected District 1 councilors, represents East Portland—an area that has historically been underrepresented in city government. Since taking office, she has been vocal about community safety, housing equity, and police accountability, occasionally drawing criticism from conservative groups and activists opposed to her policies.
The threatening email, tied to her work on Resolution 37719, has reignited debate about the harassment and safety risks faced by local officials, especially women and people of color in public office.
A Familiar Pattern
The situation echoes a similar case from January 2024, when a fire was intentionally set to a car parked outside then-Commissioner Rene Gonzalez’s Eastmoreland home. Police quickly labeled that fire as arson, though no suspect was ever identified. Gonzalez later accused the city of failing to investigate thoroughly and even threatened legal action before leaving office.
These parallels have fueled public scrutiny of how the Portland Police Bureau prioritizes and communicates investigations involving elected officials. Some residents and political observers argue that the department’s inconsistent responses risk undermining public trust.
Continuing the Investigation
For now, Avalos says her focus remains on ensuring a complete and transparent investigation into the cause of the fire. She has thanked firefighters and neighbors for their quick response and expressed gratitude that no one was injured.
Still, the councilor insists that all potential motives—including politically motivated threats—should be examined with care. “This is not about blame,” she said, “but about making sure the investigation considers all possible factors before reaching any conclusion.”
As of Friday, no arrests have been made, and authorities have not released any additional updates. The Portland Police Bureau’s Arson Unit and Portland Fire & Rescue continue to review evidence and conduct interviews related to the case.
Avalos’s experience underscores ongoing tensions between elected officials and law enforcement in Portland—particularly around issues of transparency, accountability, and the protection of public servants facing harassment.
Whether the Mill Park fire proves to be accidental or deliberate, the case has already sparked broader questions about how the city responds when its leaders become potential victims.
