Alleged Arsonist Arrested for Starting Fire at Former Paper Mill

A man has been arrested and is facing arson charges in connection with a three-alarm fire that broke out at the former Blue Heron Paper Mill in Oregon City Saturday afternoon.

Enrique Omar Mejia.
Enrique Omar Mejia, 29, faces second-degree counts of arson, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct in connection with the blaze that destroyed a large commercial building on the former mill property, which is located in downtown Oregon City near Willamette Falls.

Oregon City Police announced the arrest on Facebook Sunday, saying a witness reportedly “observed an individual throwing items from a window of a building at the mill” before the fire started Saturday.

“Officers responded and also observed furniture being thrown from an upstairs window,” the Oregon City Police Department wrote. “A short time later, officers then observed smoke coming from the same window which items were being thrown.”

Officers formed a perimeter, police said, while Clackamas Fire and other agencies responded to extinguish the fire. Mejia was located within the police perimeter and detained without incident.

Mejia was lodged at the Clackamas County Jail, where he remained as of Sunday morning. His bail is set at $13,000.

Detectives and Clackamas Fire arson investigators are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire and ask anyone who may have information to please contact the Oregon City Police Department tip line at 503-905-3505. Please reference OCPD case no. 20-025904.

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