In Northeast Portland this month, a man residing near a former Kmart that recently burned down has taken legal action by filing a class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit, brought by Stephen Vandervort, alleges that Prologis (the company leasing the building) and the property owner were negligent in maintaining the property and preventing the conditions that led to the fire. Vandervort and his family live within a mile of the building.

The fire incident, a four-alarm blaze, occurred on Wednesday, July 19, prompting the intervention of fire crews. Following the incident, the Environmental Protection Agency conducted tests on the debris and air, determining the absence of asbestos. Similarly, the initial findings of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality revealed only minimal traces of asbestos.

Vandervort’s claim is based on the contention that the defendants allowed the derelict building on the property to accumulate hazardous and flammable materials, while also permitting unhoused individuals to enter the site without proper supervision or safety measures. As a result, Vandervort argues that the defendants’ failure to maintain the property had a negative impact on the neighboring properties.