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Division Spotlight - Prevention
(Fire Marshal Erin Janssens, far right, and Fire Prevention Staff)
From the desk of Fire Marshal Erin Janssens...
While accidents will always be a part of the human condition, as firefighters, we know firsthand that many tragedies can be prevented. Portland firefighters not only respond to fires and other emergencies, we also try to prevent them before they happen.
Portland Fire Inspectors are firefighters who have pursued additional training to work in the Fire Marshal's office. They help keep you safe by inspecting commercial buildings and fire systems, ensuring new development meets fire life safety standards, controlling potentially dangerous activities on our rivers and at public events, investigating suspicious fires, and promoting fire and life safety messages. The daily efforts of our Fire Inspectors helps keep our citizens safe, and what keeps our response numbers manageable, by reducing threats to life and property.
Because of ongoing improvements to the fire code and its strict enforcement, many buildings in Portland now have effective fire and life safety features that prevent fires, control fires that do occur, and give people time to escape safely.
A major safety breakthrough that occurred several years ago is a requirement that all residential buildings have a smoke alarm in every sleeping area in addition to a smoke alarm on every floor.
The evidence is clear that smoke alarms save lives. Residential fires can grow extremely quickly, produce toxic gases, and destroy a home. Early detection is critical -- minutes, even seconds can make the difference between life and death. Sadly, most fire deaths happen in homes that lack working smoke alarms. Make sure you have functioning smoke alarms in every sleeping area and on every level of your home. If they are more than 10 years old, please replace them with new, improved models. Don't delay! Read more... |
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Firefighters' Tools of the Trade
(Halligan tool coupled with a sledgehammer)
Public Information recently met with Station 3's Lt. Eisenzimmer to bring you information about the new innovations that PF&R firefighters have come up with for their "tools of the trade". These innovations will enable them to serve the community faster and more efficiently.
Can you imagine climbing up Truck 3's aerial ladder to fight a fire 100 feet in the air? Try carrying all the gear that a firefighter must wear and carry, including a chain saw to cut vents in the structure. Station 7's Firefighter Fukai told PF&R's Logistics Section about a device he saw to help with this problem. The device currently being tested on Truck 3 is called a saw sheath. The saw sheath allows firefighters to place a chain saw at the tip of the aerial before it is extended into the air so they can climb the ladder more freely and store the saw safely when it is not in use at the top of the ladder. Read more... |
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Inside PF&R's Station 12
Station 12, located at 8645 NE Sandy Boulevard in Portland, Oregon, serves the Sumner neighborhood. Station 12's crews (A, B and C-shift) include one company officer and three firefighters. During each shift, one of these personnel fills the role of paramedic, while the other three provide assistance as EMT-Basics. Three apparatus are housed at Station 12, including Engine 12 (Advanced Life Support), Air Unit 12, and Rehab 12.
All of Portland Fire's 30 fire engines are Advanced Life Support (ALS) equipped. Having ALS capabilities enables fire paramedics to travel to medical emergencies with the equipment and advanced skills to provide life-saving services like IV's and heart monitoring. ALS services are needed for medical emergencies like cardiac arrests, difficulty breathing, trauma, or seizures. Read complete article... |
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(Design for Portland Firefighters' Memorial)
On February 22nd, the winning design was announced for a new Portland Firefighters' Memorial. The design, selected by City Commissioners
Randy Leonard and Nick Fish and Firefighter Paul Corah, will be built at the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge along the Eastside Esplanade. The memorial will honor all Portland firefighters...past, present, and future, and provide a beautiful public space to reflect on the 36 lives lost in the line of duty.
The Campbell Memorial Association is the non-profit organization overseeing the project, with fundraising efforts led by Commissioner Randy Leonard. The trustees' goal is to raise funds from private donations and construct the memorial in time to dedicate it on the 100th anniversary of the death of Fire Chief David Campbell. To read more about the life of Chief Campbell, design competition, and the memorial project, visit the Association's website.
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Next Safety Saturday
Please join us at the Safety Learning Center and Fire Museum, located at 900 SE 35th (at Belmont), for Safety Saturday on March 13th and April 10th between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. The firehouse is open to the public and features exhibits, an interactive fire engine simulator, and something for the whole family.
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Emergency Response Statistics (February 2010)
Total Incidents: 4,888
Medical: 3,893
Fire: 150
Other: 838
Major Incidents: 7
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Calling All Citizens - Strategic Planning Update
Portland Fire & Rescue needs your help to develop our 2010-15 Strategic Plan. The Plan will guide PF&R as an organization through the next five years and influence decisions regarding service levels, goals, and priorities. Please take our citizen survey and share your thoughts with us by March 19th. Click here to take the survey.
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PF&R's Station 7 - Building Relationships
The February edition of the E-Newsletter profiled PF&R's Station 7 and talked about some of the ways they are connecting with the children, families, and citizens they serve in their Fire Management Area (FMA). Watch them in action! |
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Spring Forward and Check Your Smoke Alarms
Daylight Savings Time begins March 14th. That means it's time to change your clocks and check your smoke alarms. More than 66% of home fire deaths that occurred between 2003-2006 were in homes without a working smoke alarm. A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire. PF&R asks you to change your clocks and install new 10-year lithium battery smoke alarms. Read more... |
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About Us
Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) is the largest fire agency in the State of Oregon with 755 employees and serves a population of 582,000. In 2009, PF&R responded to 69,000 emergency incidents, consistently demonstrating its commitment to be Always Ready, Always There for the citizens of Portland.
Portland Fire & Rescue
55 SW Ash
Portland, Oregon 97204
503-823-3700
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