Issue No. 28
May 2012
Inside PF&R's Station 30 (Gateway)
13313 NE San Rafael Street 

 

Portland Fire & Rescue Station 30 (Gateway) is located at 13313 NE San Rafael Street and serves the Parkrose Heights, Russell, Wilkes, and Woodland Park Neighborhood Associations.  The station was built in 1958, and retrofitted in 2007.  

 

Station 30 has a long standing relationship with the community they serve.  Every year they attend a fish fry at St. Therese School that helps raise money for improvements to the school and student activities.  The Gateway Area Business Association recently awarded Station 30 members with a plaque of appreciation for going above and beyond while serving their community.  Captain Rob has organized a multi-company drill at Glendovere Golf Course to go over access and mapping issues associated with the large space so PF&R can be prepared for an emergency at any location within the facility. 

 

There are a handful of recently appointed firefighters that work at Station 30 who keep the energy and motivation at the station at a high level.  The firefighters enjoy doing drills while at work that exceed Fire Bureau requirements.  These firefighters enjoy being active and feeling prepared for any task that might be required for their shift.  On a daily basis the firefighters make it a priority to be physically active including doing a group CrossFit workout, or just going down to the basement and utilizing the workout room.  Some members even compete in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), while others just take it upon themselves to do the extremely important job of being permanent cook for their shift. All of these things make Station 30 a fun and rewarding place to work, not only for the firefighters but the community they serve.

Outdoor Burning Safety
 

Summer is a great time to gather around a backyard fire pit in the company of friends. PF&R encourages you to have fun this summer, but to make sure to always be safe. Backyard fire pits and other recreational fires can ruin your evening if not properly maintained and monitored. Below are some important rules and reminders from the Fire Marshal's Office (FMO).

 

The following types of outdoor burning are legal within the city limits:

  • Cooking with standard barbeque equipment.
  • Recreational fires defined as burning clean, dry, cord type firewood in a standard campfire type setting.
    • Must be in a pit, pan, or fireplace type receptacle
    • Must be no larger than 3 ft diameter by 2 ft tall
    • If in an in-ground pit, must be no closer than 25 ft from a structure
    • If in a pan or fireplace type receptacle such as a Chimineeah, must be no closer than 15 ft from a structure
    • Must be covered by a spark arresting, wire mesh screen
    • A responsible person must be in attendance of fire at all times
    • Fire extinguishing equipment (e.g. stored pressure extinguisher, garden hose, water bucket, etc) must be close at hand at all times
    • Smoke must not be of a noxious quality or cause complaints from neighbors
    • No garbage or similar material is to be burned in these fires
    • Observe common safety practices (cease fire if wind is 15 mph or more, care with alcohol, watch small children)
  • Ceremonial fires / bonfires for large gatherings or institutions, ONLY when a permit from the FMO is obtained and with written authorization from the property owner. Contact the FMO at 503-823-3700 for additional information.
  • Sweat Lodges - the FMO issues permits for sweat lodges.

Open "backyard" burning (using a burn barrel, burning yard debris, burning construction debris, etc.) is not permitted in most of Multnomah County. For information regarding open burning guidelines, contact DEQ at 503-695-2225. To report an open burning violation or submit a noxious smoke complaint, call 1-888-997-7888.

 

Officers can require the extinguishment of any outdoor burning and/or issue a citation if safety rules are violated.

 

Burn Ban

 

A burn ban is declared at a time of year when fires are most likely to start, spread rapidly, and require fire control. A burn ban can be declared at the statewide or individual district level. During a burn ban, no open fires of any kind are allowed, including backyard, agricultural, or open burning. This also includes recreational fires, camping fires, or backyard fire pit fires. Gas, briquette, or pellet type barbecues are still allowed but should be used with extreme caution, with extra care given to coal and embers. Generally, no open flame fires will be allowed.

 

Anyone found to have an open fire during a burn ban will likely have it extinguished by their local fire department and could be issued a citation or warning for this violation. Extreme caution should also be used when smoking. Please properly dispose of cigarettes in a container of water or sand and never put them out in landscaping or put them onto the ground. When a burn ban is put into effect, the general public will be notified via local radio and television stations. You can also check the State Fire Marshal's website for statewide burn ban alerts, the PF&R website for local burn ban alerts, or call PF&R at 503-823-3700.

Station 28 Firefighters Help Explorers Achieve Their Full Potential

 

The Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) Explorer Program provides the opportunity for young men and women, ages 16 to 20, to become familiar with career opportunities available in the fire service. Through classroom instruction, hands-on training, and volunteer work, Explorers are provided a base of knowledge and experience that will benefit them not only in fire service careers, but also in all future endeavors. The program is designed to encourage and promote accountability, being safe, communication, teamwork, fitness, and leadership skills.

 

This year's Explorers Program has 20 participants - 16 young men and 4 young women - who primarily attend Portland Public Schools.  Each Saturday for two hours, firefighters from Portland Fire Station 28 (Rose City/Hollywood) head out to PF&R's Training Center at 4800 NE 122nd and provide hands-on fireground learning activities and classroom education.  While on the training grounds, students learn to take hydrants, work with firefighting tools of the trade, on hose evolutions, basic fire pump operations, ladder placement, and search and rescue techniques.  Each student is also expected to become CPR certified.

 

 

In the classroom, students follow a syllabus developed by Firefighter Liz Thompson and taught by the firefighters on duty at Station 28 for that particular Saturday.  Each week, students are expected to study the assigned material and take routine quizzes.  Excellent attendance is also a requirement of the program.  The program is overseen by Station 28 Captain Rick Jones, and the entire station participates in working with the Explorers from September through May.

 

PF&R is committed to providing our Explorers with the most realistic experience possible. The Explorer Program is designed and functions similarly to a Fire Science/Fire Academy. Applications for the 2012-2013 Explorers Program will be available in the month of September.  For further information or if you have questions, please contact Station 28 at (503) 823-3700.

PF&R's Alice Johnson Presents at Landlord Training Program

Portland Fire & Rescue Public Education Officer, Alice Johnson, is not just a firefighter, she's also a landlord.  This made her the perfect representative from Portland Fire at the City of Portland's Spring Landlord Training Program.  Over four training sessions, Johnson will join Housing Inspectors, Crime Prevention Specialists, and Police Bureau Neighborhood Response Team Officers to build a foundation of partnership between property owners, tenants, and city agencies to create safe communities and residences.

 

Johnson begins her presentations with a story about her own experience as a landlord.  According to Johnson, it's a lot more complicated than it looks when you start out and there are many considerations for landlords.  The primary focus of Johnson's presentation is to inform landlords about the importance and legal requirements for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.  Her presentation also touches on the dangers of careless smoking and steps landlords can take to either prohibit smoking in their rental properties, or ensure safe smoking practices are exercised.  The presentation also teaches landlords about safe heating equipment and how they can help their tenants prevent fires that may start from overloaded electrical circuits, space heaters, and other home heating equipment.

 

This program has received overwhelmingly positive responses from attendees. Landlords who have taken the course state they feel more confident in their ability to screen applicants, recognize signs of illegal activity, and take action or deal with problem tenant behaviors when they arise.

 

Topics covered in the 8-hour training session include; property management to prevent crime or loss of investment, best practices in applicant screening, rental agreements, crisis resolution, and safety.

 

The classes are offered free of charge. At the end of each session attendees are provided a certificate of attendance. Attendance is also required for the Enhanced Safety Properties program through the Portland Police Bureau and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement Crime Prevention.

 

Visit the Landlord Training Program website for the most up to date information.

In This Issue
Station 30 (Gateway)
Outdoor Burning Safety
Explorer Program
Landlord Training Program
Emergency Response Statistics
Vigilant Guard Exercise
Outdoor Cooking Safety
Station 18 Open House
About PF&R
Emergency Response Statistics (April  2012)

Total Incidents:                     6,693
Medical:                                5,461
Fire:                                         218
Other:                                   1,014
Major Incidents:                         17

Vigilant Guard Exercise

 

 

On Tuesday, May 1st, Portland Fire & Rescue along with other public safety agencies from around the area participated in a major national emergency exercise called The Vigilant Guard put on by the United States Northern Command. The goal of this event was to allow emergency responders from city, state, and federal agencies the chance to work together, testing their protocols and communication during a large-scale event.

 

The exercise focused on a mock tornado scenario wherein a tornado touches down in Salem, destroys one of the buildings at Salem Hospital and patients are sent to Silverton Hospital.

  

 

At Silverton Hospital, staff members set up a makeshift hospital in anticipation of a surge of patients. A decontamination tent and tents for minor and severe injuries cropped up in the parking lot behind the emergency department. The hospital was scheduled to receive 25 victims, played by Oregon National Guard members, with injuries from bruises to broken bones.

 

The mock disaster was reported at 6:30 a.m., when Salem firefighters responded to the area. Victims were taken to Salem and West Valley hospitals, which also were testing their capacity for handling big disasters. Medical staffers "treated" nearly 90 patients in a triage system that was set up by 8 a.m. 

 

Meanwhile, back at Fairview, Urban Search and Rescue Teams (USAR), Canine Search Teams, Haz Mat Teams, and an Oregon State Fire Marshal's Incident Management Team joined forces with the National Guard to search buildings, perform mock rescues, and practice incident management protocols in a life-like setting and environment.  This exercise was made possible through grant funding.

Outdoor Cooking Safety

 

As we approach Memorial Day weekend and the summer months, Portland Fire & Rescue urges you to be fire safe when cooking outside. Reduce the chances of an outdoor cooking-related fire or injury by using the following safety tips:

  • Use/keep the barbeque in a safe area away from children, pets, and anything that can burn.
  • Store matches and lighters up and away from children.
  • Never use outdoor cooking equipment inside-not even in the garage. You may be overcome by carbon monoxide gas, resulting in injury or death.

Gas grills:

  • Check all gas line connections to make certain they are tight and properly secured. Carefully check the grill's flexible line for cracks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing that can result in a leak.
  • If you smell a gas odor around any device that uses propane, immediately turn off the gas and don't use the device (e.g. BBQ, grill, heating unit, burner) until the leak is fixed.
  • If you propane grill uses a one to ten gallon cylinder, make sure the cylinder has an overfill protection device.
  • Always light the match before you turn on the gas

Charcoal grills:

  • Once fire has been started, never add starter fluid. Fire can follow the stream of fluid back to the container, causing an explosion and scattering flaming liquid.
  • Use caution disposing of ashes. Ashes may contain hot embers long after the visible fire is out which can start a fire if not disposed of properly. Place ashes in a covered metal container and put outdoors away from anything that can burn.

Portland Fire & Rescue reminds you that your safety is your responsibility!

Station 18 Open House

 

On June 2nd, Portland Fire & Rescue's (PF&R) Station 18 will hold an Open House from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm to welcome back personnel and equipment to the newly renovated station. This is the last of PF&R's 30 stations to be seismically upgraded under the 1998 General Obligation Bond.

 

Public and media are invited to tour the station, which is located at 8720 SW 30th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97219.  The celebration will begin at 11:30 am with an opening ceremony and refreshments, station tours, and demonstrations.  Firefighters - past and present - will be on hand to share the station's rich history with participants, as well as new ways that the crews go beyond firefighting and emergency response to reach out to and enrich their community.

 

Station 18 serves the Marshall Park, Markham, Far Southwest, West Portland Park, Multnomah, Ash Creek, Crestwood, and Maplewood Neighborhood Associations. Station 18 responded to over 1,652 emergency runs in 2011.

 

Between 1913 and 1941, Station 18 was located at 203 NE 24th Avenue.  In 1951, the station was moved to 7780 SW Capital Highway.  The station then moved to its current location in 1961. To meet the demands of the growing city, Station 18 was relocated in 2011 to a vacant garden center on SW Barbur Blvd. in order for the station to be seismically upgraded and remodeled with the use of General Obligation bond money. The station remodel was completed in 2012. 

 

Questions? Please contact Portland Fire & Rescue's Communications Team at (503) 823-3383.
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 585,000.  In 2011, PF&R responded to 68,144 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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