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National UFO Reporting Center
Sighting Report
Occurred : 4/28/2001 14:00 (Entered as : 04/28/01 14:00)
Reported: 4/28/2001 23:47
Posted: 2/5/2003
Location: Portland, OR
Shape: Fireball
Duration:about 3 min.
Immediately following a very loud, sharp explosion there was a large burst of flame in the sky, followed by dark smoke. of

Driving east on N. Marine Drive, at west end of Expo Center, when there was a very loud, sharp explosive noise. I looked up over my left shoulder and saw a large ball of flames in the sky, 500 to 1,000 feet above ground level. I couldn't tell whether it was over the Columbia River, Hayden Island, or Vancouver, Washington. I watched as the fire disappeared and dark smoke replaced it. It was all over in a couple of minutes. I looked at my watch and saw that it was 14:02. No debris fell; there was only the dark smoke, which soon dissipated. There were at least 3 other automobiles close to mine. --I taught chemistry, some physics, and some biology in high school for almost 22 years.

((NUFORC Note: We spoke with this witness at length, and we found her to be an exceptionally mature and serious-minded person. We would welcome reports of this incident from anyone else who may have witnessed it. PD))