Photograph showing firefighters spraying water into a cloud of smoke. In the foreground at left is a fire engine connected to a hydrant. On a utility pole at right is a sign that reads “E. Second St.”

Photograph of smoke pouring out of the the upper windows of the Pacific Stationery and Printing Co. building in Portland on July 29, 1926. Firefighters are gathered on the ground in front of the building and are climbing ladders to the upper windows. A cropped version of this photograph was published on the front page of the Oregon Journal on Thursday, July 29, 1926, under the headline "Down-Town Fire Endangers Employes' Lives" (sic). The photograph had the following caption: "Photograph taken during the height of the fire at the Pacific Stationery & Printing Co.'s plant, No. 107 Second street, this afternoon. Loss in paper stock, office furniture and damage to the building was heavy. Some employes [sic], cut off by burning stairways, escaped by dropping to the roof of an adjoining building. Huge noon-hour crowds were attracted to the fire which was spectacular." The photograph accompanied a story titled "Fire Hits Printing Company." According to the story, one firefighter was injured and the financial loss from the fire was estimated at $185,000. The stationery company was located in downtown Portland on what is now Southwest 2nd Avenue between Southwest Washington and Southwest Harvey Milk streets.

Photograph showing firefighters and others standing among fire hoses in the outside the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph exchange building at Alder and West Park streets (now Southwest Alder Street and Southwest Park Avenue) in Portland. A cropped version of this photograph was one of four that were published on the front page of the Oregon Journal city edition on Friday, May 8, 1925, under the headline “Here Is Fire Which Paralyzed City.” The photographs had the following caption: “Photographs of this afternoon’s blaze in the Telephone building at West Park and Alder streets, which brought home to thousands how dependent they are on telephones.” This photograph had the following additional caption information: “Lines of hoses littering the streets in the vicinity.” The photographs accompanied a story headlined “Telephone Service Paralyzed by Blaze; Damage is $150,000.” The story reported: “Telephone service in the downtown district south of Washington street was completely paralyzed today, shortly after noon, when fire broke out in the basement of the Main-Atwater exchange of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company, West Park and Alder streets. The fire, which is believed to have been caused by a short circuit in the multiple switch box, was confined to the basement of the building and lay like a pall over the surrounding blocks of the business district. The estimated damage to the apparatus and building, which is valued at $600,000, is in excess of $150,000.”

A man looks at a burned area after a wildfire in the West Hills. Smoke can be seen rising from a dirt mount surrounded by charred trees (negative 2 of 12).

An area of burned trees in the Portland West Hills, photographed shortly after a wildfire (negative 5 of 12).

Emergency personnel gathered at an intersection in the Portland West Hills, during a wildfire. Police motorcycles, a fire engine and a vehicle from the “Red Cross Regional Blood Program” are parked at what appears to be the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and Thompson Road (negative 9 of 12).

Members of the Coast Guard Reserve and Air Force training at the Portland Air Base. They stand in front of a large inferno, billowing a plume of smoke, as they use a hose and protective equipment to contain it (negative 1 of 15).

A convoy of military vehicles driving down Harbor Drive in Portland, Oregon while transporting people to fight wildfires (negative 4 of 4).

Firefighters spray water on train cars as the Copeland Lumber Co. (N.E. 42 and Halsey) building burns in the background. (negative 4 of 7).

Firefighters spray water into a burning building at Copeland Lumber Co. (N.E. 42 and Halsey). Stacks of lumber are behind them (negative 6 of 7).

Firefighters working to extinguish flames from a fire in a creosote tank at the Gasco plant. Heavy, black smoke is billowing from the tank while firefighters use hoses to spray water and foam on the burning areas (negative 1 of 9).

Firefighters working to extinguish flames from a fire in a creosote tank at the Gasco plant. Heavy, black smoke is billowing from the tank while firefighters use hoses to spray water and foam on the burning areas (negative 4 of 9).

Firefighters working to extinguish flames from a fire in a creosote tank at the Gasco plant. Three firefighters use a portable sprayer to suppress fire from burning areas. Other firefighters with hoses are visible in the background (negative 6 of 7).

A group of Firefighters working to extinguish a structural fire at a hardware store on the corner of Vancouver Avenue and Russell Street. Several firefighters stand among smoking debris in the background of the photograph. In the foreground two Firefighters stand holding a fire hose. A young, African American boy stands beside them looking back at the camera (negative 2 of 2).

Two firefighters kneeling beside a carafe of coffee taking a break during recovery efforts following an explosion at the Signal Fireworks Company warehouse near SE 84th Avenue and Powell Boulevard. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on July 6, 1958 (negative 10 of 10).

Shattered glass windows in the storefront of Luther convenience store on SE 82nd Avenue and Powell Boulevard following an explosion in the nearby Signal Fireworks Company warehouse. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on July 5, 1958 (negative 8 of 10).

Two firefighters hold a hose that they are using to extinguish a structural fire in a building near SE 84th Avenue and Powell Boulevard following an explosion at the nearby Signal Fireworks Company warehouse. Other photographs in this series were published in the Oregon Journal on July 5, 1958 (negative 9 of 10).

A woman sweeping broken glass from the floor or a barber shop following an explosion at the Signal Fireworks Company warehouse near SE 84th Avenue and Powell Boulevard (negative 14 of 14).

Patrons seated at the dining counter of Mom's Little Wheel Cafe near SE 82nd Avenue and Powell Boulevard. A woman wearing a nurses uniform stands in the open door of the cafe. All of the front windows of the cafe are broken out following an explosion the previous night at the nearby Signal Fireworks Company warehouse (negative 2 of 14).

People sifting through the debris in front of the office for Vonnie Hall Real Estate following an explosion at the Signal Fireworks Company warehouse near SE 84th Avenue and Powell Boulevard. All of the windows in the building are broken out and large pieces of debris are scattered in the lawn (negative 3 of 14).

A wooden cross is stuck in the branches of a tree in a lot filled with debris following an explosion at the Signal Fireworks Company warehouse near SE 84th Avenue and Powell Boulevard. The sign for the Imperial Motel is visible in the background of the photograph (negative 7 of 14).

William Howe Jr. and his Wife, Alice Howe, lying in hospital beds recovering from injuries received as the result of an explosion at the Signal Fireworks Company warehouse near SE 84th Avenue and Powell Boulevard. Their daughter, Mary Beth Howe, age 4, perished in the explosion. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal July 6, 1958 (negative 1 of 8).

Smoke rises from the remnants of a fire at the Mazama Lodge. Only the chimney and a wooden part of the structure in the foreground are left standing from the burned building. A sign in front of the destroyed building reads, "Mazama Lodge" (negative 1 of 14).

Smoke rises from the remnants of a fire at the Mazama Lodge. A stone wall, likely part of the chimney, still stands on the right. On the left, logs make up a wooden structure that has been badly damaged but still stands (negative 4 of 14).