Man rescued from Wilsonville fire now arson suspect

WILSONVILLE – A Wilsonville man rescued from an apartment fire earlier this month is now accused of lighting that fire.

Thomas Edward Porter, Jr., Thursday night turned himself in to police who were investigating the arson at the Sundial Apartment Complex earlier this month.

A man and woman with an infant were waiting for help, trapped on their balcony, along with a father and his six-year-old son, also on a balcony next door, as smoke billowed over their heads. Turns out, Porter was the man with the infant.

Firefighters said their apartments were already entirely engulfed in flames and smoke.  Using ladders, firefighters were able to climb up and rescue first the children, then the couple.

The building burned extremely hot and fast and firefighters said, had they gotten their minutes later, lives could have been lost.

Investigators later determined that the fire was intentionally set the father of the infant who they had rescued was a suspect.  Porter surrendered at the Clackamas County Jail Friday night after learning that a warrant was out for his arrest, according to authorities.  He was charged with arson in the first degree and scheduled for arraignment in court Friday at 3 p.m.

There were other suspected arsons in recent months, at the same apartment complex, but police have not yet said if they believe Porter was involved in those incidents.