Issue No. 23December 2011
Inside PF&R's Station 6

3660 NW Front Ave.

 

 

Next to the Willamette River and away from the hustle and bustle of downtown at 3660 N.W. Front St. sits PF&R's Station 6, one of only three cross-person fireboat stations in the city.  Built in 1960, Station 6 sits in a great location that serves the northwest industrial area of Portland, which is a big hub for employment and commerce.  Station 6 also houses two fireboats that respond to the majority of incidents in the lower part of the Willamette River. 

 

The Williams - a newer fireboat built in 1983 - is the workhorse of our fleet and the historic David Campbell fireboat was built in 1927. The Campbell can be regularly seen welcoming the Navy fleet that comes to town each year in June. Station 6 underwent seismic renovations in 2005 so it can withstand a significant seismic event and continue to serve public safety needs.  The firefighters that call Station 6 their second home have one thing in common - they love the water. 

 

Station 6 serves an area where the daytime population changes rapidly, with over 10,000 people commuting and working there every day. It is surrounded by tank farms and large industrial buildings.  Interestingly, the station sits next to one of the biggest warehouses in the state of Oregon with over 100,000 square feet of space.  In years past, Station 6 had a dedicated crew just for the boat and one crew for the engine, but with past budget cuts the station now has four firefighters each day that are cross-trained to handle both jobs. 

 

The station's proximity to the water ,along with its large, sheltered parking lot makes it a haven for water fowl, so next time you visit Station 6 be sure to watch out for ducks and geese.

Truck 4 Uses Aerial to Rescue Distraught Woman  
 
In late September PF&R's Truck 4 responded to a jumper on the top floor of a parking structure at SW 10th and Morrison. When they arrived, multiple police officers were on scene clutching a female who was over the parapet and perched precariously on a small ledge. The scene was very tense and police indicated that they were losing their grip and feared the woman would fall.


Photo Credit - Lavalle Linn / takethestreetcar.blogspot.com

Lt. Jesse Parry and his crew sized up the situation and realizing that the woman's position was near the maximum reach of their aerial ladder, knew they had a short window of opportunity to rescue the woman. To complicate matters, the woman was obscured by a tree and the ladder had to be extended over high voltage trolley lines. Lt. Parry assisted firefighters White and Kwei with spotting the ladder and then told firefighter Toops to ready himself for the rescue. They raised the aerial ladder over the power lines and then brought it down on the tree to get it into place. Firefighter Toops ascended the ladder and plucked the woman off the ledge. The woman was very scared but with Toops' assistance was able to climb down the aerial ladder to safety.
 
Many factors contributed to a successful outcome in this rescue. Portland Police's quick response and their actions helped to keep the victim from falling until Truck 4 could get the ladder into place. Truck 4's excellent performance in spotting the aerial ladder and rescuing the woman from the ledge and the close proximity and timely response of a ladder truck with a 100' aerial ladder also contributed as this piece of equipment was essential to the rescue.  As part of the rescue effort, firefighters assisted the woman in receiving needed crisis intervention counseling.
Women's Winter Shelter 

Winter in Portland can be unforgiving, particularly for the city's homeless population. In response to this, the Portland Housing Bureau has partnered with YWCA and Transition Projects, Inc. to open an expanded shelter space at the Portland YWCA for homeless women during the coming winter months.

 

Photo Credit - Kayla Anchell / OPB

 

At 10AM on Tuesday, November 22 Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish joined YWCA advisory board member Jennifer Kelly, Executive Director of Transition Projects Inc. Doreen Binder and Portland Fire & Rescue Chief John Klum to discuss community needs and the coordinated response to homelessness at the opening of the new women's winter shelter at the YWCA building in downtown Portland.

 

The goal of the event was to raise awareness of the need for emergency shelters during the harsh winter months, especially for women experiencing homelessness in Portland. The YWCA shelter, which opened on the 15th, offers 70 beds for homeless women in addition to its 114 year-round spaces and like PHB's other winter shelters, will remain open until mid-April.

 

With winter weather upon us, Portland Fire & Rescue wants you to stay safe and warm.  The following information is collected from the National Fire Protection Association, th Centers for Disease Control, and the American Red Cross.  Please use these suggestions to help you prepare for whatever weather conditions come your way.

 

Be prepared at home:                                                                  

  • Have emergency supplies on hand in case of a power outage or severe storm. Click here for a list of supplies.
  • Never use an oven to heat your home, and do not operate generators, grills, or camp stoves inside your home including the garage or basement (they all produce carbon monoxide)
  • To prevent frozen pipes insulate lines that run along exterior walls, leave cabinets open to let warm air flow through, and let water drip continuously from faucets
  • Keep a sturdy metal or glass screen around your fire place and only burn wood.  Never use paper or pine boughs as fuel
  • Avoid using candles for light, instead use battery powered lanterns or flashlights
  • If using a space heater, make sure it is 3 feet away from anything flammable, never place it on top of furniture or near water, turn it off when you are sleeping or away from the room, never cover it, never leave children unattended near the appliance, and make sure you have a battery powered carbon monoxide detector installed close by
  • To avoid falls, keep your steps and walkways free of ice by using rock salt

Be prepared on the road:

  • Carry an emergency survival kit and a cell phone in case you break down or get stuck in the snow. Click here for a list of supplies.
  • Make sure you have a sufficient level of antifreeze in your radiator, replace bald tires, check pressure of tires, carry the proper chains, and keep the gas tank near full to prevent ice from forming in the tank and fuel lines
  • Never pour water on your windshield to remove ice, it may shatter
  • Avoid traveling during severe weather.  If you must travel tell someone your destination and arrival time, and have them contact authorities if you are late
  • If you get stranded it is best to stay in your vehicle and call for help, tie a bright colored cloth to the antenna, run car for heat 10 minutes per hour (open the window slightly to let air in), keep your legs and arms moving, insulate your entire body with blankets, clothes, or newspapers, and stay awake

To check your local weather forecast visit http://weather.gov/

To receive emergency alerts register at http://www.publicalerts.org/ 

For More information, see the CDC's Extreme Cold Prevention Guide

 

 Salvation Army Celebrity Bell Ringing

 

On Tuesday, December 20th, firefighters from Station 24 and Battalion Chief Terry Munro participated in raising money for community services throughout Portland.  Firefighters rang bells to entice shoppers to drop a few coins in the Salvation Army's red kettles.   Last week, PF&R Fire Chief John Klum raised over $1,300 in his celebrity bell ring-off with Portland Police Chief Mike Reese.

In This Issue
Aerial Rescue
Women's Winter Shelter
Winter Weather Safety
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Monthly Statistics
Holiday Decorating Safety
Safe Driver of the Year Award
Toy N Joy
Emergency Response Statistics (Nov.  2011)

Total Incidents:                     5,011
Medical:                                4,089
Fire:                                         150
Other:                                      772
Major Incidents:                         12
Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increased risk of fire due to heating equipment. Here are a few tips from the National Fire Protection Association to help keep you and your family safe during this holiday season:

 

Holiday Decorations

  • Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
  • Keep candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.
  • Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
  • Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
  • Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
  • Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
  • Keep decorations away from windows and doors.

Christmas Trees

  • If you have an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.
  • Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.
  • Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
  • Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
  • Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
  • Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.
  • Get rid of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage or placed outside against the home.
Portland Fire & Rescue Public Information Officers Paul Corah, Damon Simmons, Gabe Watson and Tommy Schroeder worked together to build a "living room" in Portland Fire & Rescue's Training Center burn room. The room included furniture and a Christmas tree and simulates how quickly a tree can ignite. Watch the video here.

Please carefully follow the safety tips included above for keeping your tree and your family safe from fire this holiday season.

Fore more information on holiday fire safety, visit www.nfpa.org/.

 
Firefighter Jeremy Fraijo Wins Safe Driving Award
 
Each year, the City of Portland's Risk Management Division selects one city employee to receive its annual Safe Driving Award. This year, the prestigious award went to Portland Fire & Rescue's very own Jeremy Fraijo.



Firefighter Fraijo has been with PF&R since 1999 and is a current driver on the truck at Station 8 in North Portland. Fraijo has driven Engine 8 and as a tillerman on other trucks, which means he is responsible for steering the trailer of the ladder truck, allowing the unweildy vehicle to maneuver swiftly through the city while en route to emergencies. Tillering requires a great deal of focus and attention and the ability to react quickly and efficiently in heavy traffic.

Safe driving is extremely important to PF&R since nationally, vehicle accidents are the second leading cause of on-duty deaths for firefighters.

Portland Fire & Rescue appreciates Firefighter Jeremy Fraijo's dedication to safe driving throughout his career. 
Toy N Joy In Full Swing
 
Portland Fire & Rescue's Toy N Joy program has been in full swing since November 21st and both toy donations and requests continue to flood in. There is still time to drop off cash and toy donations at your local fire station or the Toy N Joy office on 5916 NE Going St. 

There are also still plenty of volunteer opportunities, including answering phones, taking requests, driving for pickups/deliveries, restocking, filling orders, packing for delivery, etc.

Important Numbers:

Volunteer Info: 503-823-0922
8AM - 5PM, Mon - Fri

Drop-off Locations: 503-823-3700
8AM - 5PM, Mon - Fri

Toy Request Line: 503-231-8697*
9AM - 3:30PM, Mon - Fri
*If the line is busy, keep trying! 
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 2010, PF&R responded to 65,403 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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