Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos says she’s concerned that police may be downplaying the seriousness of a fire that broke out at her East Portland home last weekend — especially after her office received a threatening email just days before the incident.
Avalos awoke early Sunday morning to flames engulfing her car, carport, and part of her Mill Park home. While investigators from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) and Portland Fire & Rescue later said the fire did not appear to be intentionally set, Avalos is urging caution against drawing premature conclusions.
“I am concerned that police leadership may be jumping to conclusions before the investigation is complete,” Avalos said in an emailed statement to OPB. “What I do know is that there is evidence to suggest multiple possibilities.”
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Police Find No Immediate Signs of Arson
On Monday, more than 24 hours after the fire, investigators said there was “no evidence” that Avalos was targeted. They found no accelerant or incendiary device at the scene and said the fire appeared to start in a nearby storage shed, not on Avalos’ property.
Despite that, Avalos says she is uneasy about how quickly law enforcement appeared to rule out foul play. She pointed to a threatening email her office received on October 22, just four days before the fire.
Threatening Message Raises Questions
The email, obtained by OPB, read:
“Hope the entire state burns and your house is the first one to go.”
It was signed “Most Normal American Citizens” and sent to Sofia Diffee, Avalos’ senior policy advisor. The message’s subject line referenced Resolution 37719, a council resolution co-authored by Avalos and adopted earlier in October that condemned the use of federal law enforcement in Portland.
Avalos said the timing and tone of the email raise legitimate questions that should be taken seriously. “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,” she said. “But no conclusions can yet be drawn, and speculation only risks undermining the investigation.”
She added that she has asked police officials to avoid public statements until the facts are fully established.
Police Maintain Their Findings
Police spokesperson Mike Benner told OPB that investigators “stand by the information already released” and acknowledged the “emotional and personal toll” the fire has taken on Avalos and her neighbors. He said both police and fire investigators continue to examine evidence and follow leads, but declined to share further details.
Echoes of Past Incidents
The incident has drawn comparisons to a 2024 fire at the home of then-City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, whose family car was deliberately set on fire outside his Eastmoreland residence. Investigators quickly determined that fire was intentional but never identified a suspect. Gonzalez later accused the city of failing to adequately protect public officials and threatened legal action over the handling of his case.
Avalos, a District 1 councilor representing East Portland — a part of the city that has historically been underrepresented — has been an outspoken progressive voice on the council. Her work on police accountability and housing policy has occasionally made her a target of criticism.
Still, she has emphasized that her main concern is not political but procedural. “My expectation is for the bureau to do everything in its power to demonstrate to the community that they are taking both the national and local context seriously,” Avalos said, “and to refrain from speculation until all facts are known.”
Ongoing Investigation
The fire destroyed Avalos’ car and caused significant damage to her property, forcing her to relocate temporarily. Portland Fire & Rescue officials say they are still reviewing witness statements and surveillance footage from the area.
As of Friday, no suspects have been identified, and the official cause of the fire remains undetermined.
Avalos says she’s focused on helping the investigation proceed transparently and ensuring that threats against public officials are handled with the seriousness they deserve. “This is a deeply personal experience,” she said, “but it’s also about public trust in how our institutions respond when something like this happens.”
