Updated: Gas Explosion Destroys Portland Bagelworks In Northwest Portland

Updated, 3:58 p.m., 10/19/16: 23 Hoyt will be closed tonight. The debate event scheduled there has been canceled.

Update, 11:49 a.m., 10/19/16: Pizzicato Pizzeria’s location at 505 NW 23rd Ave. will be closed tonight due to the gas explosion in Northwest Portland, according to a tweet released by the restaurant. The pizzeria reports none of its employees were hurt.

Original coverage: According to Katu2, there was an explosion at Portland Bagelworks on NW 23rd and Glisan around 9:30 a.m. today, October 19, and people should avoid the area. Portland Fire & Rescue has reported no fatalities. It has reported two civilian injuries and three firefighter injuries.

Eater has confirmed people in the area are being evacuated. The explosion was caused by a gas leak and led to a three-alarm fire that has since been upgraded to a four-alarm fire. Regular Eater Portland contributor Chad Walsh was one of those evacuated.

“I was in my parking lot now far away when it blew up,” he says. “I was kind of expecting it because there were already a lot of fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. I assumed there was a gas leak, but I didn’t think it’d explode. I definitely felt it. I hunched, looked up. I saw a car beside Portland Bagelworks that was entirely blasted. The entire neighborhood started swarming with people then. Now there are tons of ambulances out there and people on the street.”

Portland Bagelworks was located at 500 NW 23rd St., near the corner with Glisan. Other nearby businesses include Pizzicato Pizza, located across the street, and the Art Work Rebels tattoo shop.

Eater will continue to update this article as more news develops. Were you in the area during the explosion? Tell us what you experienced by sending a note through the Eater tipline.

Here are tweets from Portland Fire & Rescue, as well as others who witnessed the explosion and resulting fire:

• Explosion reported in NW Portland [Katu2]