A man's plan to build his dream home on a 1.2-acre property in Portland, Oregon, has been derailed by a massive illegal dumping operation, with authorities investigating the discovery of an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 tires.
Khanh Tran purchased the land in April with the understanding that he would remove a small pile of approximately 50 tires. However, upon returning with a contractor in June, Tran found the property covered in mountains of discarded tires. Footage from the site shows stacks of tires several feet high.
"It was a nightmare when I saw it," Tran told OPB. "It stressed me out so much. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't sleep for the first few days of that."
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has launched an investigation into the incident, exploring potential charges of trespassing and "offensive littering." A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office stated that the accumulation of waste tires is taken seriously due to the fire hazard and potential violation of Oregon's waste tire regulations.
Neighbors reported observing multiple vehicles, including U-Haul trucks and a cube van, delivering loads of tires to the property over several days in May. One neighbor, Jim Robertson, stated he called the police but was informed that little could be done as it was private property.
Tran, who is expecting a child, has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of tire removal and environmental restoration. The campaign has raised nearly $5,000 toward its $50,000 goal.
"I'm not giving up. No way," Tran told KGW8. "This is my home."
The investigation is being conducted in cooperation with Metro, the regional government responsible for waste management. Neighbors expressed a desire for the responsible party to be identified and fined.
