For allegedly setting a 117-year-old Portland church on fire Tuesday, suspect Cameron David Storer, 25, has been taken into custody. Storer, who asked to be referred to as “Nicolette”, is facing four charges, including two counts of arson in the first degree, one count of arson in the second degree, and two counts of burglary in the second degree, according to the Multnomah County district attorney’s office.
Responding to a report of a fire at around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, at the Portland Korean Church, on the corner of SW 10th Avenue and Clay Street, Portland Fire and Rescue arrived and within minutes, the south side of the flame-engulfed church, partially collapsed. The roof was in danger of collapsing also. As such the century old structure had to be set for demolition.
According to NBC affiliate KGW 8, a nearby home, where it was later determined, that the exterior of the property had caught on fire, was evacuated. Reportedly that structure was saved. Portland Fire & Rescue spokesperson, Rick Graves, told KGW 8 in reference to the home being saved-
“Unbelievable work on the part of the people who arrived,” …“They made entry into the home and they were fighting the fire at the church through an elevated position through the home’s window,”
-Rick Graves, Portland Fire & Rescue Spokesperson
This one fire was so significant, that it required - four battalion chiefs, six ladder trucks,75 Portland Fire and Rescue personnel and 12 fire engines.
Storer was taken into custody, the following day, and confessed to intentionally lighting the church on fire. According to prosecutors, Storer also admitted to using ten oxycodone daily, because of a previous injury and claimed to have a history of schizophrenia. Regarding lighting fire to the church-
“Storer stated that they heard voices in their head saying they would ‘mutilate’ Storer if they did not burn the church down and that they had planned it up to one day in advance,”
-Cameron David Storer