Update Friday: Kim Kosmas of Portland Fire & Rescue said no one was injured in the fire caused by an improperly discarded cigarette. The initial items that burned were a pillow and mattress.

A fire at a Southeast Portland homeless camp sent smoke billowing over the Hawthorne Bridge and Willamette River on Thursday afternoon.

Just before 2:30 p.m., firefighters responded to a report of several tents on fire at the camp, said Lt. Rich Chatman, a Portland Fire & Rescue spokesman. About 20 people were at the camp, near the Eastbank Esplanade and Southeast Water Avenue, at the time of the fire, he said, but so far there have been no reported injuries.

It was reported that a few propane tanks exploded during the fire, Chatman said. Flames were large enough to be seen from the west side of the river, but firefighters quickly put them out.

Molly Harbarger of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.

-- Rebecca Woolington

503-294-4049; @rwoolington