Fire at ethanol plant west of Portland prompts evacuations

CORNELIUS, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say fire crews are battling a fire at an ethanol fuel facility west of Portland in Cornelius that has prompted evacuations. The Cornelius Fire Department on Twitter at about 1:42 p.m. Tuesday called the fire “serious” and posted a photo of the blaze at a building and thick, black smoke above it. Fire officials then tweeted a map showing an area in which people needed to evacuate, including a Walmart store, and said others should shelter in place. At about 2:45 p.m., fire officials said crews were making a plan to attack the flames as safely as possible, and added it would be a “long duration event.” No injuries have been reported.