Residents of Southeast Portland were jolted awake by a significant explosion early Tuesday morning at the Springwater Cart Park, once known as Cartlandia, situated on SE 82nd Avenue. The explosion, which occurred around 4:45 a.m., caused widespread concern and led to damage across the area.
The loud detonation could be heard miles away, and local resident Shayley Williams described the immense shock. “In the middle of the night, all of a sudden, I heard the loudest noise I’ve ever heard,” Williams recounted. “It shook my entire apartment. All of the car alarms in the parking lot went off. It was crazy. I genuinely thought a bomb went off.”
The explosion inflicted damage on eight food carts and two nearby permanent structures. Amongst the business owners surveyed the wreckage was Jessi Singh, the proprietor of the Best Taste of India food cart. “The food cart shook and a lot of stuff fell down,” Singh explained, noting that he faces a significant cleanup effort before reopening his business.
Portland Fire Department’s Rick Graves attributed the explosion to a leaking propane fuel canister trapped inside one of the carts until it ignited. “Anybody who’s operating any sort of propane tank in an enclosed environment, whether that be your garage heater or a barbecue inside, just be certain that when you’re not actually using it to tighten the valve and close all gas flow,” advised Graves as a cautionary measure to prevent future incidents.
Fortunately, Portland Police confirmed that there were no injuries resulting from the blast. As cleanup and repairs begin, this incident serves as a critical reminder of the importance of adhering to safety protocols when using propane.
While the damages are a setback for local business owners, the fact that no one was injured offers a silver lining and underscores the resilience of the thriving food cart community in Southeast Portland.